Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan will begin their campaign in the 2018 Nigeria National League (NNL) season tomorrow against Bendel Insurance FC, amid expectations from their faith that it will be a rosy season this time.
The Oluyole Warriors got relegated from the Nigeria Professional League (NPFL) last season alongside Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC of Ilorin, Remo Stars and Gombe United.
Then known as IICC Shooting Stars, they first got demoted from the then Nigerian Division One League in 1986 while they regained their slot in the elite division after two seasons.
The Shooting Stars also maintained their status in the professional league which began in 1990 until in 1999 season when they finished in the relegation zone. 3SC were unable to return to the top-flight in 2004 season, but they also got demoted again at the end of the 2006 season.
After three years, 3SC regained their NPFL status in 2009 before their relegation again in 2013.
However, after two seasons, 3SC gained back promotion to the NPFL with Mr Rasheed Balogun on the driver’s seat in 2015, but in what appears to be a jinx, the Oluyole Warriors are back in the second-tier NNL after three seasons.
Last season, many faithful of 3SC were still hopeful of the team’s survival prior to the last game of the season against Niger Tornadoes in Lokoja, which they eventually lost 0-2.
Also, the dream to see Wikki Tourists lose their last game at away against Gombe United which could have saved 3SC from relegation was dashed as the game which was first abandoned was later completed in Abuja, where Wikki held on to their initial 1-0 lead to finish 16th on the final table.
Soon after the fate of 3SC had been ascertained, the management headed by Mr Gbolagade Busari, named former team’s striker, Edith Olumide Agoye to take over from veteran Fatai Amoo.
Busari said the management settled for Agoye primarily because of his knowledge about the composition of the team and to maintain continuity in the development of the young players who will form the fulcrum of the new squad.
“The majority of our players are from the feeders and to continue to inspire their development, we felt Agoye is in a good position to do this,” said Busari, who also said the mandate given to Agoye, a former coach of Ila Orangun FC, is to take 3SC back to the Nigerian top-flight.
The team also named Kabiru Alausa, Yinka Popoola ‘Gullit’ and Lateef Yusuf (keeper’s trainer) as assistant coaches.
Since November 1, 2017, the Oluyole Warriors have been preparing for their campaign in the lower division through a series of friendly matches.
Captain Seun Akinyemi, Suraj Sodiq, Ajani Ibrahim, Nojeem Olukokun, Wasiu Jimoh, Charles Tambe, Sylvester Ebiaku and Junior Merenini, among other key players who had been with 3SC in the last three seasons are out of the team, as the inclusion of the CHAN 2018 starlet, Sunday Faleye, is still doubtful at the time of this report owing to transfer woe.
Faleye, who is still nursing an injury he sustained at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco, according to findings has a three-year agreement to play for 3SC through his Lagos-based Free Stans Football Academy.
His proposed move to Akwa United FC last December was aborted as the management of 3SC did not approve his release.
As of the time of this report, Faleye has yet to confirm his readiness to play for 3SC in the new season.
Some youngsters have been recruited into the new squad to be captained by defender Waheed Omololu. Also retained are Moses James, Michael Uweru, Ayobami Junior and Alaba Osawe, among others.
The Agoye-piloted side bowed 2-4 to Crown FC in Ogbomoso in another friendly and settled for a 0-0 draw in the return leg tie in Ibadan.
The team in all played 33 pre-season friendlies, some of which were also against fellow NNL sides like Remo Stars, Ikorodu United, Osun United and recorded 26 wins, two losses and five draws.
The result posted by the team in the pre-season friendlies was inspiring according to stakeholders which they believed is good enough to serve as a morale booster for the team ahead of the season’s opener.
The Oluyole Warriors would no doubt want to break the jinx this time by spending only a season in the lower cadre, which has always been difficult for them to achieve since 1986.
Agoye, however, believes 3SC will not disappoint their teeming fans when the season kicks off as the team’s target remains the promotion ticket.
“It’s very clear that 3SC is a big club in this country and we are doing everything humanly possible to make sure we return to the Premier League next season.
“All hands are on deck and every stakeholder is working day in, day out to see that the club is back to where it belong which is the Premier League.
“We have been able to retain 15 of the players from the old squad and brought in new players after critically reviewing our areas of strength and weaknesses. With what we have done so far, we are good to go. I can confidently say that we are ready for the season. As a matter of fact, we were ready a month ago before the kick off date was shifted and so, we have been using the opportunity to perfect our strategies,” the former Esperance FC of Tunisia player told Tribunesport.
Also, new signing, Emmanuel Morris who joined from Nero Academy believes 3SC have what it takes to reclaim the NPFL status at the end of the season.
“I’m here to add values to 3SC. We have a number of experienced players on the ground and the zeal of those of coming in too is very high to play for a traditional team such as 3SC. I believe the NPFL ticket is as good as delivered at the end of this season if we get our act together and the support of all stakeholders. We are in high spirits to deliver the goods and more importantly, we don’t want to spend another season in the NNL,” left full back, Morris told Tribunesport.
To the Team Manager, Dimeji Lawal, 3SC are battle-ready for the new season adding that they have secured the services of 20 new players to join members of the old squad.
“We are very ready to go. In life, nothing is not 100 per cent okay but with our preparation and the calibre of players that we have, I think we are ready and I can assure our fans that we are going to win one of the promotion tickets at the end of the season.
“Sunday Faleye is a player of 3SC under contract for three seasons and he has just spent one season. So, definitely, he’s one of our players and even if he wants to leave, he has to come here and tell us he wants to leave. We are still waiting for him to report back.” Lawal, a former international told Tribunesport.