Three top coaches in the Nigeria Professional Football League will know their fates on Thursday as Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) get set to announce etheir new head coach following the departure of former manager, Kadiri Ikhana.
Checks in the club revealed that the three high-profile coaches, Okey Emordi, Zachary Baraje and Gbenga Ogunbote, have the managerial pedigree to steer the struggling Shooting Stars to safety in the top flight. Emordi who is currently with City of David United, a Nigeria National League side, won the 2004 CAF Champions League for Enyimba and was similarly declared CAF Coach of the Year. He also won the NPFL title in 2004 with Enyimba and has had managerial spells at Enugu Rangers, Heartland and Kano Pillars among other top flight clubs. Similarly, Zachary Baraje, who was released by Plateau United few weeks ago, was in charge when Shooting Stars last won the domestic league title in 1995. The third coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, steered Shooting Stars to league safety two seasons ago after joining them from Sharks during a week nine transfer window. Ogunbote left 3SC before the start of the current season, heading for FC Giwa. Ogunbote resigned his appointment with FC Giwa on Wednesday, signaling speculation he may stand a chance of returning to 3SC. Friday Christopher, a former player of the club, as well as Bright Omokaro, have been in charge of the club currently 18th in the NPFL table. “We’ll announce the appointment of a new coach on Thursday (today). “We’ve about four coaches on the list. They have held talks with the management. By Thursday, we’ll make public who our choice is amongst them,” 3SC General Manager Rasheed Balogun told Completesportsnigeria.com. “You want to know who the coaches are? Well, Okey Emordi is in the race. Gbenga Ogunbote is also in contention as well as Zachary Baraje. “But like I said, let’s wait till Thursday morning before we know who replaces Kadiri Ikhana as our coach.”