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Tag: Ogunbote

  • Ogunbote: Rangers were tough

    Ogunbote: Rangers were tough

    Sharks FC coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has admitted that Enugu Rangers were tough opponents, after his side earned a hard fought 1-0 win over the Oriental club on Wednesday.

    An early header from Christian Pyagbara gave the Blue Angels a slim home win. But Ogunbote has hailed his opponents for putting up a strong challenge.

    “It was very tough,” the former Sunshine Stars coach said after the game.

    “Playing Rangers was like playing a local derby. They are a traditional team with very tough players and they conceded nothing. They have a pedigree and they are a team you cannot wave away with the back of the hand.

    Ogunbote however praised his team’s ability to utilize their rare chance, and defend until the end.

    “The important thing though is that we had the opportunity for a goal and we were able to take it. We also defended well.”

  • Ogunbote: Sunshine tie, another league match

    Ogunbote: Sunshine tie, another league match

    Sharks’ head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has disclosed that his mission to Akure is to honour the Glo Premier League Week 14 encounter against Sunshine Stars and to guide his team towards another impressive result.

    Ogunbote stayed with Sunshine Stars for over two seasons before he quit the club two seasons ago and despite having Ijebu Ode as their base for their domestic and continental games then, he and his then players always visited Akure occasionally.

    With another trip to the capital of Ondo State in the offing against the Akure Gunners with his new team, Sharks, Ogunbote revealed to SportingLife that his immediate priority is to ensure that he sees the Blue Angels excel at Akure.

    He said the game between his present club and Sunshine Stars is just any league match that must be honoured adding that no one should term it as a warfare between him and the Akure Gunners.

    “For me, my visit to Akure is just to honour a league tie. It is just like any other match. It is not about me but about the club I represent now and no one should make any fuss about that. I had wonderful memories at Akure with Sunshine Stars but my allegiance has changed as a professional coach and this is normal,” Ogunbote told SportingLife.

    Sharks are dictating the pace at the top of the league table with 22 points from 12 matches but they must secure at least a draw at the Akure Township Stadium to maintain their top spot irrespective of what happens at other centres.

  • Ogunbote shifts attention to El Kanemi tie

    Ogunbote shifts attention to El Kanemi tie

    Sharks’ head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has stated that God has been foremost in the Blue Angels campaign in the Glo Premier League this season and hence their away win against Kaduna United has been dedicated to Him.

    Sharks’ were home and dry by halftime when they led at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium 2-0 through the goals of Christian Pyagbara before the Crocodile Boys reduced the tally in the second half but were unable to get the needed equaliser.

    Speaking with SportingLife shortly after the match, Ogunbote said the result they achieved in Kaduna was only made possible by the general contribution of the players and their fervent steadfastness on God.

    He said they would not be carried away by the fact that they are on top of the league but that they would get back to Port Harcourt and review what they could have done better ahead of their next game against El Kanemi Warriors in Port Harcourt.

    Ogunbote said:”We dedicate this win to God. He has been our guidance and protector. The players too have been awesome. We won’t, however, be carried away because we are on top of the league. We would strive to do our best, especially in our next game against El Kanemi Warriors this weekend.”

  • Ogunbote delighted with win over Amphibous fc

    Ogunbote delighted with win over Amphibous fc

    Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt has qualified for the semi final of the Rivers State FA Cup following a 5-2 demolition of amateur side Amphibious FC.

    Two of the goals were scored in the first half through Christian Pyagbara and Fortune Omoniwari while Jayeola Yusuf fondly called Olokpa (police) scored the third goal.

    Omoniwari scored the fourth goal thus getting a brace before former Qatar based striker Kayode Johnson stretched the game beyond Amphibious FC with the fifth goal, his first in his second competitive game in Sharks colours while Amphibous fc scored a goal in each half.

    Coach Gbenga Ogunbote described the win as just one feat out of so many more to come and hopes they find their rhythm in front of goal in subsequent games.

    “The Federation Cup could go either way. It is just one step behind us now and we still have many more steps to take,” Ogunbote said.

    “All the same, we pray we get our rhythm back into scoring form.”

    Ogunbote was delighted to see his new sign on, Kayode Johnson score the last goal of the match, adding that it is the dream of every attacker to score goals.

    “I’m happy that he scored, the joy of every attacker is to score goals and I hope this will serve as a morale booster for him.”

    When asked what fans should expect from the team ahead of this weekend’s cracker against Nassarawa United in the Glo premier league, Ogunbote said it is a must-win so as to restore the confidence of fans and supporters in the team.

    “My prayer is that we win the game and win convincingly, at least to bring confidence back to our teeming supporters and fans,”Ogunbote said.

  • Friday Fixtures: Ogunbote wants league matches everyday

    Friday Fixtures: Ogunbote wants league matches everyday

    Sharks FC of Port-Harcourt Technical Adviser, Gbenga Ogunbote has heaped praises on the leadership of the League Management Company (LMC) for including Friday fixtures to the Glo league matches.

    LMC had announced that the league matches would be played every Friday starting with Sunshine Stars versus Enyimba FC clash at the Akure Township stadium on February 1.

    Before the inclusion of Friday matches, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday are traditional days to play league matches in the country.

    Praising the initiative, the former Sunshine Stars of Akure coach called on the LMC to spread the matches on all days.

    “Playing league matches on Fridays is a welcome development anda good idea. It will be better if the LMC can spread the matches on all days — Monday to Sunday. This will give room for more coverage of the matches. Even if it is recorded matches it will give Nigerians more opportunity to watch Glo matches,” Ogunbote told SportingLife.

  • Sharks set cup target for Ogunbote

    Sharks set cup target for Ogunbote

    Sharks have said they expect coach Gbenga Ogunbote to at least win the Federation Cup to qualify the club for international football.

    The Port Harcourt club’s only major piece of silverware since they were founded in 1972 was the 2010 WAFU Cup. They have thrice been finalists in the Nigeria FA Cup, now known as the federation Cup.

    Sharks general manager, Okey Kpaluku said Ogunbote’s contract has been renewed after his initial season with the side and he has been given the mandate to win the league or at least secure a continental ticket.

    “We have renewed his contract and we have set a target for him. We’ve told him this time around we must win the league, get a continental ticket or get the FA Cup. Anything short of that means we have failed our fans,” Kpaluku said.

    Last season, Ogunbote took over Sharks when they were stuck at the bottom of the table following the sensational departure of Austin Eguavoen, but the former Sunshine Stars handler was able to guide them to finish eighth by the end of the campaign.

  • Ogunbote thrilled with contract extension

    Ogunbote thrilled with contract extension

    • Says Sharks will be stronger next season

    Sharks of Port Harcourt’s head coach Gbenga Ogunbote has expressed relief at another opportunity to tinker the Blue Angels for another season in the Globacom Premier League.

    Ogunbote last worked with Sunshine Stars before joining Sharks some weeks after the start of last season’s league. He teamed up with the Port Harcourt side with the club at the foot of the table but ensured they climbed the league table. The Blue Angels ended the season in 8th position with 53 points from 38 matches.

    The former Gateway United helmsman informed SportingLife from Sharks’ Ijebu Ode pre-season camp that he is looking forward to a more fruitful time with Sharks next season.

    He said some players whose services were no longer needed had been advised to seek playing time elsewhere while capable replacements are being sought around the country.

    “We are going to stay for about two more weeks in Ijebu and things have been going well for us here. We are going to have pre-season games against some local sides before we will look at other clubs in the top flight at the tail end of our camping.

    “I will be in Port Harcourt for another season having duly negotiated and agreed an extension to my contract.

    “I’m happy to be here and by God’s grace I hope to lead the club to more successes next season,” Ogunbote told SportingLife.

  • Ogunbote open to Sunshine Stars return

    Ogunbote open to Sunshine Stars return

    Coach Gbenga Ogunbote has told futaa.com he is open to coaching any team that needs his services including his former club, Sunshine Stars of Akure.

    Ogunbote, who was formerly in-charge of the Akure Gunners before heading to Port Harcourt to handle Sharks FC again, described as untrue insinuations in some quarters that he harbours some sort of bitterness against the Ondo State-financed team.

    “There is no fight between me and Sunshine Stars, I only decided to step aside for others to have their try. If the club (Sunshine) say they want me back when I am free, I will definitely consider them as long as they accept my terms” Ogunbote told futaa.com

    The fortunes of Sunshine Stars have since been dwindling since the departure of Ogunbote as the team moved from being continental campaigners to relegation battlers.

    A source in Sharks FC has however told futaa.com that they will surely keep Ogunbote for at least another season.

  • Ogunbote: Injuries won’t ruin our season

    Ogunbote: Injuries won’t ruin our season

    Sharks of Port Harcourt head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has stated that the little break given recently by the League Management Company(LMC) to clubs in the premier league has been a blessing in disguise for his team.

    The Blue Angels have six players that have been ruled out till the end of the season and they still have some others that are not 100 per cent fit.

    Ogunbote told SportingLife that the break enabled his tired players to have a deserve rest and face the task ahead.

    He expressed confidence that Sharks would visit Enugu with the sole aim of beating Rangers and thereafter win their remaining two matches against Nasarawa United and Enyimba so as to improve further on the league table.

    Sharks began the season in the drop zone and were even at a time pencilled down as relegation candidate at the start of the second stanza before Ogunbote’s magical wand turned things around.

    The club is presently placed seventh on the log with 50 points from 35 matches.

    “We thank God for our present position on the log. I have never done anything of my own volition. It has been tough this second round because we have lost six of our players for the remainder of the league season. We also have few more who are off and on. We shall strive to do our best to go all out against Rangers on Saturday and thereafter go for the two remaining games,” Ogunbote said.

    Rangers are six on the log with 52 points from 35 matches and they are up against a determined Sharks side who are only a place below them.

     

  • Ogunbote: We’ve learnt from our loss to Sunshine

    Ogunbote: We’ve learnt from our loss to Sunshine

    Technical Adviser of Sharks Football Club of PortHarcourt, Gbenga Ogunbote said his side have learnt their lessons from Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Sunshine Stars in a week 33 Globacom Premier League at the Akure Township stadium.

    Auta Phillips fired from the edge of the box on the stroke of 45th minute to score the only goal of the encounter to give coach Fatai Amoo tutored-side three points.

    Ogunbote, who was looking forward to an eventful outing against his former team, said they were victim of their inability to convert many chances that came their way which would have unsettled Sunshine Stars in the first half.

    He said the team have put the defeat behind them and will concentrate on their next game. Sharks will host El-Kanemi Warriors in the week 34 League game on Wednesday in Port-Harcourt.

    “The game has been played, won and lost. The important thing is what we have learnt from the game. We go back home and work harder and ensure that we are able to correct the mistakes we made here,” Ogunbote added.

    “We had a few chances and could have wrapped up the game in the first thirty minutes, we didn’t and that goal was conceded in the dying moment.

    “We lost the game and it’s not the fault of anybody, I don’t run away from responsibilities,” he stressed.

    The team was not happy with the way they were treated by the Ondo State Football Association when they were prevented from training on Saturday.

    But Ogunbote said he was flattered by the reception given to him by the Akure fans that were happy to see him once again.

    “I didn’t expect it. By the special grace of God while I was here (with Sunshine Stars), God with his infinite mercy made it possible for me to do very well so they don’t have any choice than to give me a warm reception,” Ogunbote echoed.