Clash Of The Titans As Ogunbote, Agoye Clash In Optima Energy Gold Cup
They had at some point in their coaching career worked together, one assisting the other. However, only recently they inadvertently swiped positions as head coaches of two fledging Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club sides. Today fans want to know who between Gbenga Ogunbote and Edith Agoye possesses the technical depth between the two.
The 10th edition of the Optima Energy Gold Cup has provided a viable platform as Sunshine Stars FC of Akure takes on Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan.
The match, the second semi-final of the pre-season tournament, holds at the FC Ebedei Stadium, Sagamu, with kick-off time fixed for 3 pm.
Last Two Meetings
The last two encounters between the two teams produced no winners as they both shared the points in their two meetings during the 2021/22 season of the NPFL.
The first leg played in Ibadan ended 2-2, while the return fixture in Akure ended goalless
Clash Of Two Familiar Tacticians
Interestingly, it is going to be a face-off between coaches Gbenga Ogunbote, the Technical Adviser of Shooting Stars and Edith Olumide Agoye, the Head Coach of Sunshine Stars.
While coach Ogunbote took over after the exit of Agoye from 3SC, Agoye on the other hand is now in charge of Sunshine Stars, a team Ogunbote had previously tinkered with.
More interestingly, both tacticians slugged it out in the grand finale of the last edition of the pre-season tourney, with Coach Ogunbote, then with Remo Stars, emerging victorious over coach Agoye, then with Shooting Stars.
Both handlers once worked together at 3SC with Coach Agoye assisting Coach Ogunbote in tutoring the Oluyole Warriors.
It, therefore, promises to be a huge game as the ‘Oracle’, as Coach Ogunbote is fondly called, faces ‘Esin’, as Coach Agoye is popularly known.
Words Of The Gaffers
Gbenga Ogunbote (Shooting Stars)
“Facing Sunshine Stars in the semi-finals makes the Optima Energy Gold Cup interesting for us. There is no big deal about the fixture, we’ll be at our best like we have always been in the matches we have played.
“It’s not about us claiming the bragging rights as regards the game by proving any point but playing well. If we win, there will be one or two loopholes in the squad that need a quick fix.”
Edith Agoye (Sunshine Stars)
“Against Shooting; we are here to also win the tournament, so we will give our best and make sure we leave the pitch victorious tomorrow. No emotion facing them as my former team, just focusing on getting the job done for my team.”
