13th April, 2012
The performance of Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan in the just concluded first stanza of the Nigeria Premier League is giving their fans a serious concern both at home and abroad.
In the years past, thousands of Nigerian football fans could not afford to miss Shooting Stars match especially when they are coming to Lagos to play against defunct Stationery Stores, NEPA or Julius Berger FC.
With the massive support Shooting Stars, popularly known as Oluyole Warriors, got from their fans, the club became the first club to win the FA Cup in Nigeria in 1971. players like Aderoju Omowon, Niyi Akande, Jossy Lad, late Amusa Adisa were prominent in the squad. Shooting Stars is one of the most decorated clubsides in Nigeria alongside Enugu Rangers and the defunct Stationery Stores F.C. of Lagos.
In fact, Shooting Stars and Enugu Rangers are known as the traditional football clubs in the country, both dominating the football scene in the country during 70s and 80s.
Shooting Stars have played and won many matches against top club sides in Africa. 3SC won the first edition of CAF Cup, defeating the Nakivubo Villa of Uganda 3-0 in the finals at the Lekan Salami stadium after the first leg ended goalless. They won the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1976, becoming the first Nigerian clubside to win an international trophy
All these things have become history for the club who has brought laurels to the country in the early 80s.Fans of 3SC are not sure if the club will escape relegation at the end of this season after their poor run in the league and the position occupy on the table.
In order to bring the lost glory back to the club, Oyo State government quickly fired Fatai Amoo and replaced him with former coach of Bukola Babes. (now ABS FC) When 3SC could not win convincingly at home, Allen was given four match ultimatum to deliver or face suspension. Unfortunately Allen could not meet the ultimatum given to him as management ordered him to step aside for now.
After 3SC defeated Enyimba 1-0 last Saturday in the Nigeria Premier League played at the Adamasingba Stadium, Oyo State, some of the fans who spoke to PM Sports argued that the club needs fresh legs in the team before the second stanza of the league kick off on 21 April.
One of the 3SC fans, Festus Olayiwola, who has been following the trend of Shooting stars in the last few years said the problem of Oluyole Warriors go beyond coaching crew saying that Shooting Stars need to put the right person in the right position and do away with sentiment, favouritism and tribalism that can bring the club to the relegation.
Apart from average players being recruited to the 3SC, the fans also complained that the club management are not transparent and accountable in their duties while other felt that there are some officials who are not to be part of the club decision making because they lack the knowledge of the game.
“Some of us who have been following Shooting Stars for years know better than club officials. It is sad that the mediocre have taken over the club
“We are not happy with the position of 3SC on the table. We have average players compare to other clubs in the premier league. Despite the money the State Government spent on the club, we have not see any improvement in the club.When would i see 3SC playing in the continental?,” he queried. I expect the club to be among the top five on the table but unfortunately we are in sixteen positions on the table,” said one of the fans who refused to mention his name.
Team Manager of 3SC, Mutiu Adepoju agreed that the team need to be fortified before the second stanza of Nigeria Premier League. He declined the names of players that have penciled down for next season.
—Sunday Akintoye