Tag: Sunshine Stars FC

  • Eguavoen walks away from Sunshine Stars, cites referees attitude

    Eguavoen walks away from Sunshine Stars, cites referees attitude

    Following a string of poor performances, Augustin Eguavoen, the Coach of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure, has unceremoniously quit his job in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Sunshine played five games with the former Nigerian Coach in charge, winning two and losing three.

    They beat Rangers International of Enugu 2-0, lost 0-1 to Lobi Stars of Makurdi, defeated Enyimba International of Aba 1-0, and also lost 0-1 to 3SC of Ibadan and 1-2 to Plateau United of Jos.

    The management of Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) confirmed on Friday in Akure that the Technical Adviser, who joined the club in April had left his post due to what he called “frustrating performance of Nigerian referees’’.

    Mike Adeyeye, Secretary to the Committee for repositioning ODSFA, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure.

    Adeyeye said the management never had any problem with the coach but that he decided to walk away from the team and Nigerian football in general due to “bad attitude and poor performance’’ of referees in the competition.

    He noted that the coach had improved the performance of players and the team in general, but left because of the system of refereeing matches that always favoured some teams that “belonged’’.

    “He left because of Nigerian referees, he never complained about us, I sympathise with him, and he has left Sunshine and Nigerian Football for good.

    “I don’t see Nigerian football improve in the next 10 years if it continues to be like this, they are stage managing everything in Abuja,’’ he said.

    However, asked whether any form complaint had been lodged with the League Management Company (LMC), Adeyeye told NAN that it would be futile to waste N250, 000 to do so.

    “Look at the good goal that was disqualified in Ibadan, it is be frustrating,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that Sunshine Stars currently occupies the 17th position on the NPFL table, with goal difference separating them from the relegation zone.

  • Plateau United snatch valuable three points as Sunshine Stars fall at home

    Plateau United snatch valuable three points as Sunshine Stars fall at home

    Leaders Plateau United Football Club of Jos maintained their place at the summit of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Wednesday after a 2-1 away win.

    They beat hosts Sunshine Stars FC of Akure in a week 23 match of the competition, after a controversy that led to game disruption.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the game had ended 1-0 in the half time in favour of the home team after Ezekiel Thompson nodded in a free kick.

    The visitors equalised in the 61st minute through substitute Emmanuel Odafe.

    Trouble however started when Plateau United took the lead from a long throw-in.

    Officials and players of Sunshine Stars protested that the goal scored was a product of a handball infringement.

    A scuffle began immediately, with the first assistant referee collapsing on the ground after Sunshine Stars goalkeeper David Ariyo appeared to hit him in the chest.

    This led to a stoppage of play for about 20 minutes, as it took the medical team some time to revive the assistant referee.

    After Ariyo was sent off by the centre referee for dissent and play resumed, the visiting side held on to take the maximum three points from the game.

  • MFM FC whips Sunshine Stars in Akure

    MFM FC whips Sunshine Stars in Akure

    Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM) Football Club of Lagos on Sunday stunned hosts Sunshine Stars FC of Akure 1-0 in a 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.

    The Match Day 6 fixture played at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure had MFM FC scoring the match’s only goal through Stephen Odey in the 49th minute.

    At the end of the match, Kayode Olujohungbe, the host team’s Technical Adviser, said he was disappointed with the result and that his team got its tactics wrong.

    “They utilised their advantage and we opened the door for them. But we are very disappointed with the points we dropped, especially as we are planning to use this match to improve our standings on the log.

    “It is very unfortunate, but we have learnt our lessons,’’ he said.

    On his part, Fidelis Ilechuckwu, the Technical Adviser of MFM FC, said he had always believed in his players’ ability because they are young.

    Ilechuckwu said what affected them last season was that they had no players on the bench who could always fill in for the others last season.

    He said they would now be aiming for the title this season.

    “I think it is all about players who can listen to instructions. They are very young with great spirits and we have a good bench that can perform very well,” the coach said.

    The Technical Adviser later praised the League Management Company (LMC) for the improvements witnessed so far in the league competition.

  • Abia Warriors sign Seun Olulayo

    Abia Warriors sign Seun Olulayo

    Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia have signed former Nigeria Under-23 national team player, Seun Olulayo ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    Olulayo joined Abia Warriors from Sunshine Stars FC of Akure on a year deal. He is expected to arrive in Umuahia on Wednesday to team up with other players.

    The left sided attacking midfielder who won the 2015 African Nations under-23 competition in Senegal with Coach Sampson Siasia signed the contract on Tuesday afternoon.

    The club’s chairman, High Chief Emeka Inyama said the need to do well in the league necessitated the club’s action to go for the best legs in the Nigerian League of which Olulayo belongs.

    Other talented players recruited by the club include; former Heartland FC of Owerri Skipper and Federation Cup Winner, Chinedu Efugh, Dele Olorundare from Sunshine Stars of Akure, Newman Musa of MFM, Zoumana Doumbia of Heartland FC and other good players.

    However, the club is expected to be in Calabar on Friday for a closed camping in preparation for the coming season.