The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sunshine

  • Okiki Afolabi not for sale, says Sunshine

    Okiki Afolabi not for sale, says Sunshine

    Sunshine Stars of Akure have stressed that they have no intention of selling hitman, Okiki Afolabi to any club during the current Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) transfer window.

    The in-form striker moved joint top of the NPFL goal scorers’ chart after his late penalty secured a 1-0 win for the  Owena Waves over Lobi Stars in a Match Day 22 encounter decided at the Akure Township Stadium on Sunday.

    Okiki has been a transfer target for several other top clubs during the current transfer window, but the Media officer of the Akure based team, Wahab Bankole described reports of his purported move as mere speculation.

    In a chat with SportingLife, Bankole said the club’s prized asset who was voted the League Bloggers Award (LBA) Player of the Month of April is happy to play for the club and has reiterated his commitment to the team.

    “All those reports are just mere speculation. We have no plan of selling Afolabi, I can confirm that to you. Afolabi is an asset to Sunshine Stars just like other players in the club. Since Tunde Adeniji left the club, Afolabi has been playing the role perfectly well and has proved himself as a reliable striker. So he is one of the players we are counting on as we challenge for the League title and the Federations Cup this season,” Bankole told SportingLife.

  • Sunshine Stars’ Okiki hopeful of passing 25-goal mark

    SUNSHINE  Stars’ Okiki Afolabi has set a 25-goal target this season in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

    The former Shooting Stars forward is second on the scorers chart in the top tier with 10 goals, two adrift of Wikki Tourists’ hot shot, Godwin Obaje.

    ”My season has been productive so far. It is a reward of hardwork and belief in  myself. Looking at the position of Sunshine Stars the possibility of picking a continental ticket is very high,” Okiki told Goal.

    ”I’m hopeful I can get at least 25 goals to help my team finish in the top three at the end of the campaign. The fans have been too good to me and all the players and we have to repay them with good results,” he said.

    Sunshine Stars resume their NPFL campaign with a clash at home to Abia Warriors on June 5.

  • Sunshine grab away win in Umuahia

    Sunshine grab away win in Umuahia

    • Olorundare’s 90th min strike stuns Abia Warriors
    • Warri Wolves thrash El Kanemi 3-1

    Sunshine Stars have secured their first away win of the season after they defeated Abia Warriors 2-1 at the Umuahia Township Stadium to inflict the hosts first home loss of the season in a NPFL Match Day 19 tie yesterday.

    The Umuahia side failed to clear their line properly in the dying moments of the first half and this allowed Akure Gunners‘ striker, Rasaq Adegbite to fire home the curtain raiser of the match but Abia Warriors found the leveller through Obinna Eric Nwaimo in the 78th minute.

    When the hosts had thought they would at least leave the pitch with a share of the spoil, Sunshine’s Dele Olorundare struck in the 90th minute to hit the final blow on the Kennedy Boboye led Abia Warriors.

    The Owena Waves moved to 27 points from 19 games while Abia Warriors are on 30 points from 18 matches.

    In Warri, it took three second half goals to deny El Kanemi Warriors against Warri Wolves whose the brace of Kelvin Itoya-the adjudged man of the match fetched them important three points against the Borno Armies.

    Itoya, a second half substitute, opened the scores in the 77th minute before adding the second five minutes later through a thumping header.

    Sikiru Alimi grabbed the third in the 88th minute as the Seasiders moved to 28 points from 18 matches. There was still time for El Kanemi Warriors to pull a goal back in the dying minutes of the match.

  • Dike calls Sunshine tie tough

    Heartland head coach, Alphonsus Dike has admitted that yesteray’s NPFL clash against Sunshine Stars of Akure was tough.

    The Naze Millionaires pipped the Owena Waves 1-0 in the game played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

    Ifeanyi Onuigbo’s 55th minute goal was enough to hand the Owerri-based side the whole three points at stake in the clash.

    Dike said though his side committed some careless mistakes at goal they were largely the better of the two sides on matchday.

    “It was truly a hard match from start to finish but we thank God for the hard fought victory at the end of the day.

    “The players performed hugely well compared with the previous games determinations were there to win the match despite stiff challenge from the visitors.

    “Though there were unpardonable mistakes at goal which we have to quickly correct before the next match they were the better side on matchday.

    “Of course, the victory against Sunshine Stars is a great morale boost heading into Wednesday’s rescheduled matchday 6 oriental clash at neighbours, Enyimba in Umuahia.

    “We are in high spirit right now looking forward to another five-star performance against champions, Enyimba,” said the former Enugu Rangers and Nasarawa United coach to supersport.com

    The hotly contested win against the Akure outfit has taken Heartland total earnings to 17 from possible 39 with a game at hand at neighbours, Enyimba.

  • Ifeanyiubah go top, Sunshine win big

    Ifeanyiubah go top, Sunshine win big

    FC Ifeanyiubah returned to the summit of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after defeating Warri Wolves 1-0 in Nnewi yesterday.

    Maduabuchi Okereke scored the winner just before the hour mark as the Anambra Warriors rise to top spot on 22 points, one more than Enugu Rangers in second place.

    Sunshine Stars were the biggest winners of the match day when they cruised past El-Kanemi Warriors 3-0. Okiki Afolabi and Dayo Ojo converted spot kicks while Isiaka Oladuntoye’s goal came in between the scored penalties.

    There were one-nil wins for Lobi Stars and Rivers United over Akwa United and Kano Pillars respectively. Bernard Ovoke netted a late goal for Rivers United while Nanen Imenger scored for Lobi midway into their game against Akwa United.

    Niger Tornadoes added to the woes of struggling Ikorodu United. Tornadoes were two-nil winners with both goals scored by Ismaila Gata, who now leads the scorers chart with seven goals.

    Last Friday, MFM FC edged Wikki Tourists 1-0 while Nasarawa United and 3SC defeated Plateau United and Heartland by identical scorelines of 2-1 on Saturday.

  • Sunshine earn first league win of the season

    Sunshine earn first league win of the season

    •Beat 3SC 2-1 in south west derby

    Sunshine have earned their first league win of the season after a hard fought 2-1 home victory over 3SC in a NPFL Week 9 tie played at the Akure Township Stadium yesterday.

    Dele Olorundare shot the Owena Waves ahead in the sixth minute of the match but the Oluyole Warriors fought back gamely to level scores in the 63rd minute through Tope Orelope.

    A stoppage time winner from Okiki Afolabi in the 92nd minute of the match settled the 11th south western derby in Sunshine Stars’ favour.

    Sunshine have six points from seven matches to move out of the bottom spot to 17th on the log while 3SC remain on nine points from seven ties.

  • Victory against Sunshine from training ground – MFM Coach

    Victory against Sunshine from training ground – MFM Coach

    The assistant coach of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos, Suleman Obinna Alli has said that the hard earned three points over Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure in match day 4 of the Nigeria Football Professional League was projected from the training ground.

    MFM FC recorded their third win of the season on Wednesday at the Agege Stadium with a resounding 2-1 victory over experienced Akure Gunners courtesy of goals from Newman Musa and Stephen Odey.

    Suleman said after the match : “Before the game we told our players that Sunshine Stars are a good team in Nigeria Football no doubt about it if you look at last season they were one of the most consistent teams that played good football.

    “We were able to overcome them through determination and the way we took the game to them we knew we were going to win, so we told the players that we needed the maximum three points and we came out and did what we needed to do.

    “One good thing about football is when you believe in your players, you know what they can do, then you have the right to say whatever you want to say, we got the three points from our training ground,  we’ve already projected the three points before the game,” he concluded.

    The victory against the Akure-based side has taken the Olukoya Boys total points in the league to nine points from a possible12 in the four-week-old top flight.

  • Sunshine Stars sack Unuanel, Abiodun

    Sunshine Stars sack Unuanel, Abiodun

    Sunshine Stars Head Coach, Samson Unuanel and the club’s Technical Director, Henry Abiodun have been relieved of their duties by the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) with immediate effect, SportingLife can report.

    Media Officer of the Akure-based team, Wahab Bankole informed SportingLife that both Unuanel and Abiodun were sacked due to the internal wrangling between the two men which has adversely affected the performance of the team.

    According to Bankole, Kayode Olujoungbe has been appointed in interim capacity until a substansive head coach is appointed.

    “ODSFA Management relieve both head coach of Sunshine Stars, Samson Unuanel and Technical Director, Henry Abiodun of their duties due to internal wrangling between the two which has affected the players and team’s performance. This has not justified the huge investment of the state government and expectations of the people of the state.

    “Kayode Olujoungbe takes over as interim coach pending the appointment of a new substantive head coach. His appointment takes immediate effect,” Wahab said in a mail message sent to SportingLife.

    Sunshine Stars lost 2-1 to MFM in the NPFL Week 4 encounter decided at the Agege Stadium on Wednesday.

    Sunshine Stars’ Samad Kadiri strike in the  41st minute had cancelled Musa Newman’s opener before Stephen Odey finished a brilliant team move to give MFM a 2-1 win to condemn the Akure Gunners to their second consecutive loss this season.

  • Abe apologises to Sunshine Stars fans

    Abe apologises to Sunshine Stars fans

    Sunshine Stars captain Abe Sunday has apologised for getting sent off in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat to MFM FC at Agege Stadium.

    Abe was shown a straight red card by referee Francis Agbaegbu for kicking out Chukwuka Onuwa in the closing stages of the game as his side continued their poor domestic form.

    And although the former Flying Eagles star admits it was a fair decision, he insists the foul was merely a misjudgment rather than nasty.

    “I feel very bad getting the marching order at a time when my team needed to win,” Abe told Goal.

    “The MFM FC midfielder [Onuwa] who had been a thorn in our flesh tried making a counter-attack and I tried to break up the place, but I just miscalculated it.

    “I tried to trip him up and, but he got further away from me and in my attempt to halt him again, I fouled him and the referee sent me off. After the game, I felt I have let the team down because we never deserved to lose. When we get to Akure, I will appeal to the fans again before we take on Ifeanyi Ubah FC.”

    Abe also confirmed he will not be appealing the ban and will miss the club’s next game against the Anambra Warriors.

  • Sunshine Stars still on track despite Lobi defeat-Bankole

    Sunshine Stars still on track despite Lobi defeat-Bankole

    Sunshine Stars media officer Wahab Bankole has refused to view his side’s defeat against Lobi Stars in a negative light.

    After being held by Akwa United on Sunday, the Owena Waves were silenced 2-1 by the Makurdi based outfit with Tony Okpotu netting a brace.

    The Akure lords now sit 16th in the table, one point from the relegation zone – and the club’s media officer is not giving in on the team’s title chances.

    “There is no cause for alarm because the team is gradually getting back to shape, and we have a new coach in charge who will definitely make things work,” Bankole told Goal.

    “That is just the game of football. We cancelled out the hosts’ goal and while we were still celebrating, we got stunned in the closing stages of the game.

    “We are not blaming anybody for this but it’s just unfortunate that we lost and all hands will be on deck to bounce back.”

    The quartet of Tamen Medrano, Tunde Adeniji, Prince Aggrey and Paul Onobi left the club at the beginning of the season and Bankole said their departure has not in any way affected the team.

    “I won’t subscribe to that,” he continued. “Though we saw the exit of some players after last season and we’ve got better replacements for them. I can tell you that team is even stronger than before.

    “There is nothing to worry about, we will return to winning ways very soon. Remember we started very well last season but finished badly, this time around, we hope to end on a high.

    “And as a matter of fact we are still keen on winning the Nigeria Professional Football League title because that is our main target and that hasn’t changed,” he concluded.