The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogunbote

  • Ogunbote receives official car

    Ogunbote receives official car

     • Grateful to Giwa

    The owner of Giwa FC, Ambassador Chris Giwa has made good his promise to present the head coach of the Jos based club, Gbenga Ogunbote with an official car after he handed over the car keys of a Toyota Prado to the ex-3SC and Sunshine Stars’ boss.

    Giwa FC are presently in Ijebu Ode where they are putting finishing touches to their preparation for the new premier league season and Ogunbote revealed to SportingLife that he cruised in the car to Ijebu Ode for the pre season camping.

    Ogunbote thanked the proprietor of the club for keeping to his promise while adding that the gesture of Giwa would rub on positively on the club by the time the league season begins.

    The ex- Sharks boss has, however, charged all the old players of the team who are yet to return for the build up to the new season to do so without delay because he would be making up his mind on the players he would  need for the new season by weekend as serious training begins from Monday in Ijebu Ode.

    Ogunbote ,who told SportingLife that he has counselled his players on what is obtainable before the transfer of a player is deemed to be in order, revealed that players who are forcing their way out of the club without due process are doing their football career a big disservice.

    He noted that any player that wishes to leave ought to approach the management of the club to intimate the club of his decision to leave for another club and that it is then that the method through which both parties would benefit from the transfer would be struck.

    Ogunbote is, however, canvassing for a Nigerian league where clubs can set buyout clause on their players if they are still on contract and are willing to go before its expiration adding that a look into this by stakeholders in the elite division will put an end to the perennial transfer logjams.

  • Ogunbote preaches discipline at Giwa

    Ogunbote preaches discipline at Giwa

    Coach Gbenga Ogunbote has joined Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Giwa FC as technical adviser for the coming 2015/16 season.

    The former Sharks and Sunshine Stars coach guided Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to a ninth finish on 53 points in the out gone top flight.

    Supersport.com source quoted Ogunbote on Monday as charging the players to brace up for the task to secure an African ticket for the Jos side in the coming league season.

    “Coach Ogunbote addressed us after today’s (Monday) morning training he stated that the task handed to him is to win continental ticket for the side in the coming season.

    “Ogunbote said he prays a lot and with hard work and cooperation of the players the task is achievable. The coach paid 100% emphasis on discipline insisting that he will not tolerate indiscipline from us especially as it concerns training schedule.

    “We assured him of our unalloyed cooperation and support more so as he promised to make our welfare top priority during his reign. We received him with our whole heart hoping that things will actually change for the better as he promised,” said the unnamed source to supersport.com.

    The Tin City side ended their campaign in the out gone 2014/15 NPFL season on the fifth position on 63 points seven points behind champions, Enyimba.

  • Ogunbote agrees terms with Giwa FC

    Ogunbote agrees terms with Giwa FC

    Gbenga Ogunbote has left Shooting Stars and is hours away from penning a deal with the Jos-based side, Giwa FC, according to sources.

    The former Sharks and Sunshine Stars coach, is a top profile tactician in the top flight having led the Owena Boys to the semi final of the CAF Champions League in 2012.

    Ogunbote guided 3SC from the precipices of relegation to ninth on the NPFL log last season. Sources said the coach is currently in Jos where discussions of his terms have been on the table.

    “He’s in Jos but the deal is not complete yet but it might take just a couple of hours before an agreement is reached. He left 3SC without malice but needed a fresh start without the many burdens that he endured in Ibadan.”

  • Ogunbote: My defenders were careless

    Ogunbote: My defenders were careless

    3SC head coach Gbenga Ogunbote has blamed his players loss of concentration for their away loss to Enyimba in a Glo Premier League Week 33 tie last Sunday and has promised to reshuffle the team ahead of FC Taraba’s visit this weekend.

    Ogunbote revealed that the Oluyole Warriors would have picked at least a point from Aba if they had not been careless in the lead up to the goals conceded by them against Enyimba and that the manner in which the goals were let in left much to be desired.

    The former Sharks and Sunshine Stars’ head coach, however, thumbed up the breathtaking performance of Enyimba who did everything possible to get the goals they needed to seal maximum points.

    “We were careless in the defence and the fact that they were desperate for the league title made the game more daunting for us. Enyimba are a beatable team and the goals we conceded today(on Sunday) showed that we still have lots of work to do before we can beat league champions,” Ogunbote told SportingLife.

    Ogunbote nonetheless stressed that he would still ensure that 3SC end the season in an appreciable spot on the league table after guiding the team from bottom of the league table to 11th on the log with 46 points from 33 matches.

    He also acknowledged that the players brought in at the beginning of the second stanza were yet to properly blended with the team adding that with more hard-work the team would be a side to beat in the league next season.

    Ogunbote has also tipped Enyimba for the league title at the end of

    the season but he counselled the People’s Elephant not to be complacent at this stage of the season if they are serious about winning the record setting seventh league crown with five matches to season’s end.

  • Ogunbote: We beat Heartland, not revenge

    Ogunbote: We beat Heartland, not revenge

    Shooting Stars Sports Club (3sc) head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has said his side won an away match not revenge at Heartland.

    The Oluyole Warriors defeated hosts, Heartland 3-1 at the resumed Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match day 22 clash yesterday’s at the Rojenny International Stadium in Oba.

    Forward, Tope Orelope scored the match opener for 3SC while Heartland debutant, Fortune Omoniwari even scores before the Ibadan landlords got their two additional goals off the boots of Cletus Itodo and Najeem Olokokun.

    The encounter could not be completed on Sunday due to heavy downpour that made the turf unplayable. The Owerri outfit won 2-1 the first fixture clash at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

    Ogunbote said his side played quite well to deserve the hard earned away victory at the expense of the Naze Millionaires.

    “For a very long time 3SC have not won an away match, though people considered the win as revenge but I see it as a game, we won a game not actually revenge.

    “Of course, 3-1 win you must give it to the players to have acquitted themselves quite well in the clash though it’s not yet a 100% perfect side. The equaliser was really unnecessary mistake but I think they did perfectly well to earn the whole three points.

    “We won’t allow the win to get into our heads, we will ask for God’s wisdom to help us manage the immediate success. It’s still a race as we are not yet there, we still need to work even harder to achieve the desired goal,” said the former Sunshine Stars coach to supersport.com.

    The victory at Heartland has shot up the Ibadan warlords total earnings to 32 from possible 66 in the 22-week old top flight.

  • Ogunbote takes gamble on Shooting Stars

    Ogunbote takes gamble on Shooting Stars

    Coach Gbenga Ogunbote has described the task before him as a very challenging job after putting pen to paper for Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan.

    Ogunbote was attacked by fans believed to be supporters of his former club before the current season, and replaced coach Franklin Howard, who was sacked just over a week ago. He told www.footballlive.ng after signing that he will work hard to earn the trust and confidence of the players in him and hopefully turn the fortunes of the club around.

    “I’m aware that it’s a daunting task and I know with God all things are possible. I know we need to work harder than at any other time in the club’s history and ensure we carry the players along. As long as they also have confidence and believe in me then we can achieve it together.”

  • Ikhana, Ogunbote praise Keshi’s reappointment

    Ikhana, Ogunbote praise Keshi’s reappointment

    Enyimba coach Kadiri Ikhana and Sharks FC manager Gbenga Ogunbote have praised the NFF’s reappointment of Stephen Okechukwu Keshi as the man to lead the country’s senior men football team for the next two years.

    The former Super Falcons head coach said Keshi has always been the best candidate for the Super Eagles in as much as some Nigerians don’t want him.

    Ikhana in a chat with futaa.com in Aba said: “Keshi is the right man for the Super Eagles job. Nigerians are quick to forget what he achieved with the Super Eagles but just because he didn’t qualify Nigeria for the AFCON 2015, that’s why he has many haters. That’s exactly what we coaches face, once you lose a game or fail to qualify for a tournament, people start calling for your head, forgetting that you just can’t win every day,’’ Ikhana stated.

    Sharing the former Kano Pillars coach’s opinion is Sharks of Port-Harcourt head coach Ogunbote who sees Keshi’s return as a welcome development that will help stabilise the national team.

    ‘’I believe the return of Keshi is good as he’s been with the team for a while and the terrain is not new to him. It is something Nigerians should be happy about, all Keshi needs to do now is to harmonise the team more.” Ogunbote told futaa.com.

    Ogunbote also praised the NFF for offering Keshi the much awaited contract and a second chance, noting that Nigerians are already seeing the body’s good work, especially in the area of league officiating.

    Both coaches urged Nigerians to rally round Keshi and give him the much needed support to help move the country’s national team to the next level.

  • Ogunbote to return to Sharks’ dugout soon

    Ogunbote to return to Sharks’ dugout soon

    Fit again Sharks head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has revealed to SportingLife that he would soon return to his duty post as the Blue Angels’ coach after he recovered from the injury he sustained recently when fans attacked  the gaffer over players selected for the current campaign.

    Ogunbote was beaten black and blue by some alleged fans of Sharks and the former Sunshine Stars’ handler was hospitalised before he was recently discharged.

    He told SportingLife that he hopes to rejoin the Port Harcourt side after Saturday’s Gubernatorial and House of Assembly Elections in the country.

    “I thank God that I am fine now. I will soon return to my duty post and I can say that I am satisfied with the arrangement on ground regarding security and I am very well aware that other requests are also being worked on,” Ogunbote told SportingLife yesterday.

    Sharks are eighth on the log with four points from three matches in the league.

  • Ogunbote leaves hospital

    Ogunbote leaves hospital

    Sharks of Port Harcourt head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has been discharged from hospital but will still be kept under close observation until he fully recuperates from injuries he sustained when some fans of the club allegedly manhandled him shortly after a recent training session.

    Ogunbote’s alleged offence was his failure to include players who are indigenes of the state in the Sharks team for the 2014/2015 league season.

    The coach is yet to resume  training since the incident but he was discharged from hospital on Monday and has started that not-too-long road to recovery.

    Club captain, Odinga Odinga confirmed that the Blue Angels handler has left hospital but gave no time frame for when the former Sunshine Stars’ coach would be resuming at his duty post.

  • Nigerian coaches condemn attack on Ogunbote

    Nigerian coaches condemn attack on Ogunbote

    •Want NFF to fish out perpetrators

    The Nigeria Football Coaches’ Association has condemned the fans’ attack on one of their members, Gbenga Ogunbote and has charged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to properly investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book.

    Ogunbote, who is the head coach of Sharks of Port Harcourt, had it rough in the hands of some fans of the club who beat him black and blue over allegations that he dropped most of the indigenes in the team for those from other parts of the country.

    The former Sunshine Stars’ coach is still in the hospital recuperating from the injury sustained in last Wednesday’s attack.

    The Secretary-General of the association, Solomon Ogbeide told SportingLife that the body is almost through with its strongly-worded letter to the NFF wherein its position will be to demand that the perpetrators are fished out and banned from all football activities after they might have faced the full wrath of the law.

    “We the (members of the) coaches’ association are not happy about what happened to coach Gbenga Ogunbote. We reject it in all entirety and we are writing a broadside to the NFF so that they will be alive to their responsibilities and strive to get the doer of such heinous act.

    “We are going to write our own letter to the NFF so that investigation of the matter will be immediate and thorough, so that the person(s) responsible for the action will not go unpunished,” Ogbeide told SportingLife.

    The Bayelsa United head coach urged the NFF and states’ governments to make the security of sportsmen and women their watchword, adding that what happened to Ogunbote should be handled properly so that it doesn’t become the norm in the country.