The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 3SC

  • 3SC official: Private firm cannot buy the club

    3SC official: Private firm cannot buy the club

    A top official of Shooting Stars has told SportingLife even though Nairabet CEO, Akin Alabi is showing the willingness to buy the Oluyole Warriors outright from the Oyo Government, the history of the club may make it difficult to be handed to a private firm completely.

    The official told SportingLife that the interest shown by the businessman should be commended because he knows that it is the personal wish of the Nairabet owner to revive the club’s fortunes but he stated that the image of the club and its fame would make it bigger brand for a private firm to handle alone.

    He, however, disclosed that Alabi who is the sponsor of the club in the league this season is aware of the conditions of the club and that he will do well if he calls for a co-ownership arrangement with the Oyo Government than bidding to take over completely.

    Shooting Stars only yesterday re-appointed Gbenga Ogunbote as head coach in their bid to turn the season around during the second stanza where they are currently placed 18th on the log with 17 points from 18 games.

  • Exodus hits troubled 3SC

    Exodus hits troubled 3SC

    The problems of struggling Shooting Stars appear to be compounded as several of the top players will exit the Ibadan club during this transfer window due to unpaid salaries.

    The players have been on half salaries for the past three years and have not been paid in the last five months.

    Top of the stars set to dump the Oluyole Warriors are striker Ajani Ibrahim and veteran midfielder, Cletus Itodo.

    Both experienced campaigners are discussing personal terms with Lobi Stars.

    Big striker Babatunde Bright is also believed to be on his way to FC IfeanyiUbah, who have budgeted N100 million to snap up quality players ahead of the second round of the season.

  • 3SC won’t be relegated, insists Ajani

    3SC won’t be relegated, insists Ajani

    Ibrahim Ajani has insisted there is ‘absolutely no chance’  Shooting Stars will be relegated this season after calling on his team mates to gain some momentum.

    The Oluyole Warriors have endured a difficult first round in the 2016 Nigeria Professional Football League season after picking up just five wins from their opening 18 games to sit 18th in the table.

    Ajani believes 3SC’s performances this season merit a greater points return than their current tally of 17 and he is targeting just a sixth win of the campaign when the club host Akwa United on June 5.

    “We want to say let’s get some momentum leading into the tough second round. Let’s go and be aggressive – we want a victory against Akwa and that is our focus,” Ajani told Goal.

    “We won’t get relegated, absolutely no chance. We just need to keep plugging away. I think the management and the majority of our fans can see that we are in a false position at the moment. It’s not as if we are getting battered, not playing well and we’re on the ropes.”

  • Friday Christopher: 3SC won’t be relegated

    Friday Christopher: 3SC won’t be relegated

    Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) caretaker coach, Friday Christopher has said the Ibadan warlords will not be relegated at the end of the ongoing league season.

    According to him: “3SC are not on the relegation zone, we are just around the zone after 19 matches in the first stanza. We have equal number of matches to play in the second stanza of the ongoing league season. We will overcome the present plight as well as pick form and win matches to take our rightful position on the log.

    “With  19 matches to be played we will certainly bounce back. We will maximise the opportunities provided by the mid-term break to shop for quality players to strengthen the side for the second term campaign.

    “The defeat at Akwa United was simply defensive blunders which has pointed the area we need to fortify. Certainly, 3SC will not be relegated we will weather the storm and finish the race strongly,” said Christopher to supersport.com.

    The assistant coach was drafted to the main bench after head coach, Kadiri Ikhana left the side prior to the clash at Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.

  • Dokubo relishes win against 3SC

    Dokubo relishes win against 3SC

    Akwa United caretaker coach, Daboere Dokubo has said his side scored their goals at the right time against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).

    The Promise Keepers defeated the Oluyole Warriors 2-0 in yesterday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 19 clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

    Striker, Ubong Friday put his side in front in the eighth minute while Cyril Olisema grabbed the match winner in the 32nd minute to hand his side the whole three points at stake.

    Dokubo said his side wanted more goals but were unable to use the chances that came on their way in the second half of the encounter.

    “Well, the clear cut chances came in the first half and we were able to make it count positively, we tried to increase the goal tally in the second half of the game but the opportunities went into thin air.

    “However, the beauty of it all is that we were able to make it an emphatic 2-0 victory and three points in our kitty.

    “We are happy ending the first stanza on high and a strong footing to commence the fight when the second stanza kicks off later next month.

    “3SC are not bad side, they fought to reverse the victory but met their match so I say kudos to the players,” said the former Sharks coach to supersport.com.

    Dokubo said his side will shop for quality players during the midterm break to further fortify the Uyo outfit for the last lap campaign.

    “We will source for quality players to further strengthen the team for the second stanza of the league.

    “We will look for experienced and matured defenders as well as attackers to make the team 100% perfect,” said Dokubo.

    The hard fought victory against 3SC takes the Uyo-based side total earnings to 27 after three points deduction as a result of Giwa FC expulsion from the ongoing league season.

  • Rangers top again after home draw with 3SC

    Rangers top again after home draw with 3SC

    Rangers are back on top of the Nigeria league despite dropping their first points at home this season on the back of a 1-1 draw with shooting Stars on yesterday.

    Rangers now have 28 points from 15 matches, a point ahead of second-placed Kano Pillars with Abia Warriors a close third.

    Chisom Egbuchulam put Rangers ahead from the penalty spot after 80 minutes after he was upended inside the box.

    However, Tope Orelope, who came close to signing for Rangers in the close season, drew Shooting Stars level in stoppage time also from the penalty spot after Matthew Etim handled the ball inside his own box.

    In other matches,  Plateau United were held to a goalless draw by Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars pipped MFM FC 1-0 at home.

  • Pillars demolish 3SC 6-0

    Pillars demolish 3SC 6-0

    Kano Pillars recorded the biggest win of the Nigeria league season yesterday when they thumped visiting Shooting Stars 6-0.

    Emmanuel Edmund grabbed a hat-trick with Ifeanyi Matthew, Adamu Mohammed and Nafiu Ibrahim also getting on the scoreboard.

    Pillars now have 21 points from 12 matches.

    Ifeanyi Matthew opened scoring for Pillars with a low drive after 11 minutes, before Edmund doubled the lead in the 37th minute.

    Edmund grabbed his brace in the 58th minute and completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute, before late strikes by Adamu Mohammed and Nafiu Ibrahim.

    The heavy defeat has clearly showed up the sharp divisions of Shooting Stars, whose players have not been paid for the past six months.

  • Ikhana begs Ajimobi over 3SC players’ 5-month unpaid salaries

    Ikhana begs Ajimobi over 3SC players’ 5-month unpaid salaries

    Coach Kadiri Ikhana of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan on Saturday appealed to the Oyo State Government to pay the club’s players their outstanding five-month salaries.

    Ikhana said his players had been honouring their league matches discontented, hungry and unhappy, adding that they could only play well if they ate well.

    “It has been tough for the team recently, especially when we have to play eight matches in 16 days. Now we are going on a long journey to play against

    Nasarawa United and Kano Pillars. The players have been going out there to play matches on empty stomachs and I am appealing to the government to do more on the unpaid salaries,’’ he said.

    Ikhana told newsmen in Ibadan, after his team defeated visiting Heartland Football Club of Owerri 2-1, that his players’ morale was down as a result of the situation.

    Meanwhile, coach Alphonsus Dike of Heartland FC has described his team’s loss to 3SC as unfortunate, adding that they lost it in their defence. He however alleged that there was a general distraction for his team in the game from the spectators, which he said “was unruly and uncalled for’’.

    Dike said his team would now have to return to base and strategise on how to win their remaining matches.

  • 3SC, Giwa, Rivers Utd record home wins

    Shooting Stars and Giwa FC defeated visiting Ikorodu United and Kano Pillars 2-0 respectively in continuation of the Nigeria league on Wednesday.

    Sunday Adetunji grabbed a brace for 3SC to see off Ikorodu United in Ibadan.

    An own goal in the 72nd minute and a 22nd minute goal by Aminu Mbai combined for hosts Giwa to down Pillars at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos. Lobi Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Wikki Tourists and hosts Tornadoes forced Sunshine Stars to a 2-2 draw.

  • Irate Akure fans beat up 3SC officials

    Ugly scenes of violence marred Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League Week 9 encounter between Sunshine Stars and Shooting Stars in Akure.

    Sunshine Stars triumphed 2-1 but the game itself was overshadowed by the vicious, unprovoked attack on 3SC General Manager, Rasheed Balogun, and the team General Coordinator, Abubakar Abubakar a.k.a Dan Fulani, by the irate Akure fans at the VIP stand of the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.

    Eye witness accounts revealed that the unruly fans descended heavily on Balogun and Dan Fulani after 3SC equalised through Tope Orelope, with both administrators sustaining injuries.

    Balogun and Dan Fulani were immediately rushed to the hospital.

    All the cameramen recording the match were forced to stop recording before Okiki Afolabi”s late goal.

    “It was God that saved me because at a point when they were beating me, I never knew if I was alive or not. I lost money, wrist-watch and other valuables at the process of the attack,” Balogun said while taking medical attention in the hospital.

    It would be recalled that both administrators were attacked last season at the stadium.

    However, it took the intervention of heavily armed security men before the match officials were rescued out of the stadium after the match.