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.

The Mainbowl of the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, will be alive as the two surviving clubs in the 12 team tournamnet go for the coveted trophy at stake.

Shooting Stars will aim for victory to retain the trophy, having won the maiden edition last year and as well prove that the 5-0 semi final win over Lobi Stars in that edition was not a fluke.

On the other hand, the coach Kabiru Dogo tutored lads will take on the Edith Agoye tutored Oluyole Warriors with the mindset of avenging the embarassing semi final drubbing in 2019.

However, Lobi Stars’ revenge mission could be described as mission impossible, going by the resolve of 3SC players not to relinquish the title.

Team captain, Waheed Omololu, in a chat with Shooting Stars Media, said he and his teammates have nothing in mind other than to take the trophy back to Ibadan.

‘It is a pre season tournament but it is an avenue for us to to convince our teeming supporters and most importantly our amiable governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, as well as the entire people of Oyo State that we are ready to return the team to the elite league at the end of the 2020/21 season.

“Having come this far, which is largely due to the determination of the players, the technical expertise of our coaches led by Edith Agoye, the efforts of the Rasheed Balogun led management and of course, the support of our Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, we have no option than to retain the cup”, said Omololu.

Meanwhile, the General Manager of the club Rasheed Balogun has charged the players to go all out for victory against the Makurdi based sidel in Tuesday’s final.

The players had a nice time out with the GM on Monday morning, where he (Balogun) urged them to ensure they retain the troohy, reminding them that the die hard fans of the club cherish victory in any competirion.

3SC beat Delta Force 1-0 in last years’ final, hoping to also end this years’edition triumphantly.

Tosin Omojola

Media Officer, 3SC.

The five-time Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions lifted the maiden edition of the prestigious Preseason Tourney last year when they defeated Delta Force 1-0 in the final game. They recorded a historic semifinal victory when they hammered Lobi Stars 5-0 to reach the final which they eventually won.

“I’m excited we are participating in the preseason tournament this year, we are looking forward to the tournament and as the champions, it gives us a great opportunity to defend our title. It will also give us that chance to compete with top NPFL clubs,” said Agoye.

The champions are paired in Group C alongside two Nigeria National League (NNL) sides Nilayo FC and Remo Stars, while Kwara United are the only NPFL side in the group.

“The feeling as the tournament champions is great, we had a good tournament last year and it showed us the level that we are. We took the form into the season and we did well in the season before the pandemic outbreak. We want to replicate what we did last season in the tournament.

“Ijebu-ode community should expect a vintage Shooting Stars, a team that is playing in the NNL but deserves to be in the NPFL. We hope our performance in the preseason tournament and the season proper will help us take the club back to the top flight.”

The tourney organizers have confirmed the 12 clubs that will participate in this year’s edition and the draws were conducted on Monday. The tournament is supported by Nigeria’s number one betting company, Bet9ja, and newly birthed airline, ValueJet.

Kwara United and Remo Stars will face-off in the opening game today at 4pm, the grand finale is scheduled for November 24th.

The groups:

Group A:
Rivers United
Gateway FC
Warri Wolves
Bendel Insurance.

Group B:
Lobi Stars
MFM FC
Crown FC
Godosky FC.

Group C:
Shooting Stars
Nilayo FC
Kwara United
Remo Stars.

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.