The Management of Shooting Stars Sports Club 93SC) of Ibadan has given an ultimatum to the technical crew of the football team to immediately ensure the team is out of the relegation zone in the ongoing Nigerian Professional League or be ready to face sack.
The Executive Chairman of the Club, Mr. Gbolagade Busari gave this stern warning at an emergency management meeting to evaluate the position of the club, which is rock bottom of the league table.
Busari explained that the coaches of the team were specifically told that they would be evaluated on a match to match basis and the management will not hesitate to wield the big axe.
According to Busari, “the team has a crop of young and promising players that could excel in the Nigerian League and it is the duty of the technical crew to mould them into a successful side.”
Busari warned that the management will not tolerate any excuse on the part of the technical crew, urging that adequate measures should be put in place to ensure that the team survives the relegation battles.
Also speaking on the team, Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Yomi Oke promised that the government will intensify efforts in supporting the club in its bid to bring back the glory of Shooting Stars, adding that the teeming supporters, who are not happy with the team, will soon have smiles on their faces.
3SC currently languishes at the bottom of the NPFL with 26 points after Match Day 24. Some of the club players were alleged to have confided to their friends that the club owes them some months’ salaries and match allowances. Their defeat against the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club seems to have confirmed that all is after all not well with the club.
But Busari said there was not truth in the report as the players have been paid their May salaries aside from other bonuses and allowances, which serve as inducement for the team.
“We have a group of young players who are growing and we believe they have quality when the league began. When the delay in salaries started, we were not doing too badly. Even in the first half of the league we played three away draws, which the same players featured in.
“All of a sudden there was a dwindle in their form, we do not know why the slight, why the players are not putting up a good performance as they were before now. That tells you a lot about our coaches and the technical crew. It is their duty to mould these players and keep them together. And if the players are not performing well, the buck stops on their table,” he said.
Busari said the late payment of salaries cannot be the reason the team is not performing well, adding, “apart from their remuneration, their bonuses are paid on time and there are other financial packages we give to our players if they win a home game or away game.”