He has returned home to sign for Heartland, where his mentor Samson Siasia was in charge.
He is reputed to have groomed the bulk of all the new generation footballers (1998–2006) that come out of Bayelsa State—the home state of Finidi George and Samson Siasia.
It is believed that the 1 GAME initiative which he founded has recorded more than 100,000 sign ups on its website including endorsements from celebrities such as Jamaica’s reggae musician Shaggy, Hip-hop duo P-Square, former Nigeria senior national football team coach Samson Siasia, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Aminu Maigari and some members of NFF Executive Committee.
Siasia was one of the five foreign managers auctioned in Feb 2012 for the new Bengal Premier League Soccer.
After Samson Siasia left Nigerian club Heartland to manage the Nigerian national team, Bahner was one of four European coaches named on the shortlist to replace him.
In October 2004, his agent recommended Okoronkwo to coach Samson Siasia and he was fundamental for Nigeria's U-20 qualifying for the African Youth Championship in Benin 2005.
Anichebe suffered a groin injury during a 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Madagascar in September 2011, with Nigeria's coach Samson Siasia blaming the poor pitch.
It was rededicated in 2009 and named after former Nigeria standout Samson Siasia.
Samson | Samson Siasia | John K. Samson | Samson Raphael Hirsch | Samson of Dol | Samson (band) | Polly Samson | Paul Samson | Samson Raphaelson | Peter Samson | Oscar Samson Rodriguez | Frederick Samson | Camil Samson | Black Samson | Standing Dish with ''Samson Crushing the Philistines with the Jawbone of an Ass'', ca. 1580. Now at the Taft Museum of Art | Savanna Samson | Samson Tractor | ''Samson'', preserved at the Nova Scotia Museum of Industry | Samson of Brechin | Samson Levy | Samson (Handel) | Samson Dutch Boy Gym | Samson Cerfberr of Medelsheim | Samson Bodnărescu | Samson Abramsky |
Gerard van Honthorst
After Samson Siasia left Nigerian club Heartland to manage the Nigerian national team, De Kruif was one of four European coaches named on the shortlist to replace him.
Notable sons of Bayelsa State include veteran novelist and poet Gabriel Okara; pioneering Nigerian journalist and pre-independent freedom fighter Ernest Ikoli; Nigerian Civil War hero Major Isaac Adaka Boro (Nigerian Army) and Canadian Olympic gold medalist and world wrestling champion Daniel Igali; and former National Team footballers Finidi George and Samson Siasia, Olympic / under-20s coach.