After netting the first of two goals for Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), forward Moses Omoduemuke expressed great delight at being pivotal in the 2-0 win over Enyimba International on Monday.
Omoduemuke deployed a lethal instinct to tap home his first goal for Oluyole Warriors in the 14th minute after Enyimba goalkeeper had parried Malomo Taofeeq’s effort. 
The former Rivers United attacker turned provider five minutes before the half time break. He benefited from Enyimba’s failure to clear their lines and selflessly set up Emmanuel Lucky who tapped into an empty net for his third goal of the season and 3SC’s second of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 25 encounter.

Omoduemuke disclosed how he shrugged off illness and mentally prepared himself to break the duck against Enyimba.
“I’m so delighted for the way I played today. For the past few games, I was not feeling fine. I had typhoid and had to treat that. But I’m happy to put that behind me and show what I am made of today,” Omoduemuke said.
“I knew I would score today right from our preparation. I did my personal training. I also did my prayers. I was very confident that my goals for the team would start counting today. So I’m happy I did it and helped the team too,” he added
Omoduemuke also reflected on his selfless act to set up Lucky’s goal which drew applause from the fans.
“I met him (Emmanuel) here. I knew we would connect right from when I watched him during a friendly game for us. He is young and hardworking. We now live together and I think all these things are helping us work together and help the team get better,” he concluded.

SHOOTING STARS XI
31 Ogundare Detan, 11 Ezeh Chidera, 13 Anaekwe Ebuka, 6 Olatunji Damilare (Isiaka 53′), 5 Adekunle Adeniyi, 4 Ezeala Uche, 9 Emmanuel Lucky (Opeoluwa 82′), 22 Ghali Falke (Ewenike 69′), 23 Omoduemuke Moses (Adejubu 69′), 10 Uko Anietie, 28 Malomo Taofeeq (Sochima 82′)
SUBS1 Okanlawon Olaide, 14 Augustine Bafan, 3 Omololu Waheed, 2 Isiaka Mutiu, 35 Ewenike Achibi, 24 Opeoluwa Olufeni, 27 Adejubu Ayo, 26 Archibong Utibe, 17 Sochima Elum
GOALS: Moses Omoduemuke 14′, Emmanuel Lucky 40′
YELLOW CARD: NIL
RED CARD: NIL

ENYIMBA XI
21 Djeri Sabirou Bassa, 2 Emmanuel Ampiah, 6 Nabil Yarou, 23 Adekunle Adeleke, 32 Bilal Yakubu (Obasi 76′), 13 Sadiq Abubakar (Godwin 76′), 16 Philip Ozor (Farouk 57′), 20 Cyril Olisema,  9 Emeka Obioma, 14 Samuel Kalu (Orok 57′), 25 Victor Mbaoma
SUBS  1 John Noble,  3 Daniel Darkwah, 17 Chigozie Obasi, 19 Orok Gabriel, 27 Farouk Mohammed, 28 Abel James, 38 Godwin Emmanuel
GOAL: NIL
YELLOW CARD: Samuel Kalu 35′
RED CARD: NIL

Rangers stayed in 3rd after they were forced to a 0-0 draw by visiting Sunshine Stars at the Awka City Stadium while Remo Stars also stayed one point adrift of the Flying Antelopes in 4th after a 1-1 draw against Nasarawa United in Jos.

Remo went in front in the 49th minute when club’s top scorer, Andy Okpe finished a fine pass by Qudus Akanni but Nasarawa United replied five minutes later when former junior international King Osanga’s free kick took a deflection before nestling inside the net.
In Kaduna, Kwara United earned their own away point after holding hosts Wikki Tourists to a 1-1 draw. Former CHAN Eagles star Abubakar Aliyu gave Wikki the lead in the 13th minute through a well executed volley. Kwara United however drew level ten minutes from time through Abdulsalam Abdulsalam as Abdullahi Biffo’s men stayed in 5th.
Reigning champions Akwa United continued their unbeaten start to new coach Deji Ayeni’s reign after a creditable 1-1 draw at Gombe United. Adam Yakubu gave Akwa United the lead in the 16th minute but Abdulazeez Yusuf restored parity for the hosts in the 36th minute when he converted from the penalty spot. Neither side could find a winner in the second half.
In a result that mattered for relegation ramification, Abia Warriors played out a 1-1 draw against ten-man Niger Tornadoes in Okigwe. Warriors took the lead through winger Paul Samson whose 20-yard effort beat Tornadoes goalkeeper Lucky Abdullahi but young defender Augustine Njoku inadvertently put Idris Munir’s ball into his own goal. Tornadoes played the last six minute with ten men after left back Gabriel Wassa was dismissed for two bookable offences. Only Dakkada FC and Shooting Stars secured wins on Saturday, the latter giving themselves a huge lift in the relegation battle after a 2-1 win over basement side Heartland in Uyo. Israel Emmanuel gave Dakkada the lead in the 28th minute when he connected Emmanuel Ayaosi’s brilliant cross before captain Aniekan Ekpe doubled their lead with his fourth penalty goal of the season in the 53rd minute. Heartland pulled one back in the 64th minute through Monday Yakubu but could not find a leveller.
In Ibadan, 3SC recorded their biggest win of the season so far after two quick fire goals by striker Emmanuel Lukcy gave them a needed 3-0 win over Lobi Stars in Ibadan. Lucky first pounced on some slothful defending to a set-piece to give his side the lead in the 3rd minute before getting his brace in the 18th minute while heading home another free kick. Substitute Ayo Adejubu then provided gloss to the scoreline ten minutes from time, netting after a solo effort.

Saturday’s results
Gombe United 1-1 Akwa United
3SC 3-0 Lobi StarsKano Pillars 0-0 Katsina United (TBC)Rangers 0-0 Sunshine StarsAbia Warriors 1-1 TornadoesWikki Tourists 1-1 Kwara UnitedDakkada FC 2-1 HeartlandNasarawa United 1-1 Remo Stars
Sunday
Plateau United vs MFM FC
MondayRivers United vs Enyimba

Head Coach of 3SC Edith Olumide Agoye has identified inconsistencies in the nation’s league as a major factor affecting the country’s football.

Agoye who spoke as a Guest of the Ex – University of Ibadan Footballers Association virtual interactive program said the inconsistencies have made it difficult for anyone to effectively assess the development of football in the country.

Quoting his words, the former striker said “there are too many stoppages in our league, and this is affecting our football development. Nigeria League is very inconsistent and you cannot rate such a league. For the past three seasons, things have not been working the way it should be. If one problem comes up and solution is sort for it, you will see two or more others. This has been making it difficult for us to achieve anything in game all these while “.

He bemoaned that Nigerian league which was a Cynosure of all in the past, has become an object of caricature now” the current situation is pathetic. When South Africa can out of apartheid in the 90’s, they sent their officials to understudy how we organize our league back then. That was how good our league was then. But today, the gains of the yesteryears have gone, we are now struggling among other African countries. Even the South Africans that understudied us, are now poles ahead of us. The only thing we have now is the belief that tomorrow would be better and we will continue to hang on that” he concluded.

Former International and Shooting Stars Head Coach, Edith Agoye has revealed that quest to survive as a kid pushed him into football.

Revealing this at the monthly Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association interactive program at the weekend, the former International said growing up as kid in the Ibadan was difficult, though interesting.

According to the player who graduated from the Department of Agronomy in the Premier University, growing up was like that of other kids in Nigeria “my parents were poor, it was a life of struggle at a tender age. It was a life of struggle to grow up, where you have to fend for the yourself and assist the family”.

Continuing, the former Junior International said “probably that was why I became good in football. I normally go out with my friends and bet on playing penalties to raise some money. Sometimes, we play set (4 v 4) for money, and when you win, you take your share home and give to your mother to prepare food for the whole family. That was one things that made me strong and tough in every situation I found myself and that determination has kept me going “.

Edith Agoye, was a widely travelled super striker with a terrific striking prowess. Built like a tank and blessed with deft touches, Agoye was simply indomitable during his playing days.

Highly technically gifted, it was an absolute delight playing alongside him in any team just as he was an absolute terror to the opponents on the pitch.

The vastly travelled ex striker had an impressive soccer career which saw him play for a number of teams in Europe, Africa and Asia. Starting from Works FC in Ibadan as a teenager in the late 80s, he teamed up with 3SC as an undergraduate and soon afterwards jetted out to play for FC Schaffhausen (Switzerland), Rot-Weiss Oberhausen (Germany), Esperance FC (Tunisia) and Braunnau (Austria) before coming back to 3SC again between 2002 and 2004.

He moved abroad again in 2004/2005, this time, to Bnei Sakhnin F.C (Israel), Maccabi Herzliya FC (Israel), and Hapoel Be’er Sheva (Israel). In 2007, he came back home finally and teamed up with Julius Berger F.C before moving to Enyimba International F.C. in the 2008 season and finally went back to his first love 3SC for a third and final time, before eventually calling time on his career in 2009.

Agoye Edith, ex Flying and Super Eagles learned the game at all levels. Upon retirement, he concluded part of his training in England before becoming a certified coach. He became an assistant coach for 3SC in 2013 and was made the head coach a few years later.

He graduated from the University of Ibadan with a Bachelors Degree in Agronomy.

Edith Olumide Agoye, former junior International and the current Head coach of 3SC Football Club, Ibadan, has sensationally admitted his regret at missing the final of the 1996 CAF Champions League Final with his darling Club, 3SC of Ibadan.

Speaking at the monthly interactive session of the Ex-University of Ibadan Footballers Association at weekend the ex- Super Eagles player , said he wished he could turn back the hands of time and be a part of the final match between 3SC and Zamalek of Egypt in 1996.

“I honestly wish I could turn back the hands of time and be a part of that final match against Zamalek of Egypt. Many of the fans believed that if I had been a part of the 3SC team in that final, the outcome would have been different and 3SC would have won”.

“Sincerely, on hindsight, I would have loved to have played in that final to know what my inclusion would have brought. But sadly, that knowledge will never be known”, he said during the interview.

Explaining further his decision to seek greener pasture in the middle of the season in 1996, he admitted that he was at crossroads to go professional abroad or stay back and so had to make a quick decision as a budding professional.

“I had to make a very urgent decision back then and I opted for traveling abroad to Switzerland, to further seek greener pastures in my Football career. Though now, I feel I should have waited a bit to help execute the final and see what the outcome would have been. All that is in the past now anyways”.

He also spoke of his avowed love for The Great Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, his hall of residence while being a student of the prestigious University of Ibadan.

“Zik Hall simply is the best, I learnt so many life lessons while in Zik Hall. The supporters of the football team, the Baluba Lions, were simply the best. The brotherhood displayed in Zik Hall was second to none. I never for once regretted being a Zikite during my days at the University of Ibadan” he concluded.

Agoye represented the University of Ibadan in Football and played at two World University Games tournaments. He was also a part of the Natiobal U20 team coached by Fanny Amun in 1995 and was capped once by the senior national team. He’s currently the Head coach of 3SC Football Club.

Henry Duru

Ijebu-Ode will be a host to 16 teams for a week, in one of the best preseason tournament in the country.

Shooting Stars won the maiden edition of the Dapo Abiodun preseason tournament after a 1-0 win over Delta Force.

Nigeria Professional Football League teams like Kano Pillars, Lobi Stars, Enugu Rangers, Kwara United, MFM FC will storm Ijebu-Ode on Monday for the tournament which kicks off on November 17.

Draws for the tournament will take place on Monday, November 16 at the Dipo Dina Stadium by 5pm.

Odegbami who was very prominent in the success stories of Shooting stars in 70s and 80s spoke in an online Personality Interview with the FCT Football Update WhatsApp Platform.

He appreciated the efforts of Rangers International in ensuring that they remain in the top plight of the league since inception in 1970, but bemoaned the inability of Shooting Stars to replicate that, instead, they continued to fluctuate between the Premiership and the lower division of the league.

Odegbami who was the first Nigerian to be named among the 10 best African players in 1976, said until the Oyo state government realized the importance of Shooting Stars in the Socio-political economy of the state, and give it the required attention, the fortune of the club will continue to fluctuate.

He said that the victory of Shooting Stars in 1976 African Winners Cup changed the perspective of many about Nigeria football, leading to his nomination as the third best player in Africa then.

Mathematical Odegbami paid glowing tribute to General David Jemibewon who incidentally clocked 80 years recently, saying he was the best football friendly governor that has ever ruled any of the Western States, with exemption of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

He said that when Shooting Stars (then known as IICC) won the first continental trophy in 1976, General Jemibewon paid all the bonuses and promised to give them a Volzwagen Bettles car if they retain the trophy in 1977.

“General Jemibewon still gave us the cars for our efforts, despite losing in the semi finals to Rangers International of Enugu” he concluded.

In view of the resolution by clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), calling for the cancelation of the entire season including that of the Nigeria National League (NNL) and other leagues, we hereby register our rejection of the move.

To put the record straight, we state unequivocally, that 3SC as a club, has no business dabbling into the issues of the NPFL, which is a separate league on its own.

NPFL clubs’ decision to end the season, using the Point Per Game (PPG) format to determine who wins the league and which teams pick continental tickets, is none of our business.

In fact, we don’t have any issue about their decision not to relegate any club, a decision, they might have taken for reasons best known them.

However, our concern is centered on the resolution of the LMC or NPFL to call for the cancelation of the 2019/20 season. of the NNL.

We wish to state categorically here that, since the NNL is not an appendage of the NPFL, it has no right whatsoever to take any decision on the running of the NNL.

Therefore, approving the proposal of the NPFL by the NFF, is unreasonable, disrespectful and infringing on the right of clubs in the NNL.

We therefore reject in totality the proposal of the NPFL, which means that no team will be promoted into the premier division.

The NFF should know, that giving its nod to the proposal, portends great danger for the Nigerian league, considering the fact that NNL clubs are also part of the league and therefore, deserved to be carried along in decision making as stakeholders.

We regard the proposal of canceling the season as inhuman, unfair and high level wickedness as it showed that those behind it are less concerned about the 42 clubs participating in the NNL.

For instance, 3SC as a club, started preparing for the 2019/20 season since a year ago and you will recall that the season did not start until the tail end of October.

In preparing for the season, human efforts and huge resources were involved. We are therefore irked that canceling the season, will amount to waste of human efforts and financial resources, pumped in by the financier of the club (the Oyo State Government).

We wonder why and how the risk of embarking on rigours and tortuous journeys to different parts of the country, with attendant insecurity in some places, coupled with tax payers money spent on the club by its financier, were not considered by the apostles of NNL cancelation.

We want to bring to your notice that 3SC , have not stopped paying our players since the league went on break in December and even despite the economic challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

As I am writing this, our players are already getting alertz for the salary of the month of June.

In addition, how do we go about the money spent on securing the services of players from other clubs, securing licenses through the registration of the players, as well as huge money spent on officials, staff and other logistics for the season. Should we just allow all these to go down the drain.

We sincerely believe that common sense should prevail.

As it is, we are of the opinion that the NNL season and brouhaha surrounding the whole issue can be settled through any of the following formats.

1.If the NFF eventually approves or accepts the use of PPG in the NPFL, same can be applied in the NNL

2. A playoff of the two top teams in each group of the NNL can be organized to determine the four clubs that will be promoted to the NPFL and
3. Since the NPFL clubs have agreed that no team will be relegated, we can have a 24 team format just like we had it in the 2017/18 season.

We are appealing to the NFF to toe the path of honour, honesty and transparency in taking a decision that would be acceptable to every stakholder in the Nigerian league, which of course include clubs in the NPFL, NNL, NLO and the NWPL for the good of the game and for the sake of fair play, which is the slogan of the world football governing body, FIFA.

It will do the country’s league good, if the Sport Ministry and other relevant bodies concerned can allow justice and fairness to be the order of the day in order to save our football from kiosk.

SIGNED

Tosin Omojola

Media Officer

Shooting Stars Sports Club.