KENNEDY Boboye’s sudden departure from Sunshine Stars FC amid allegation of interference from the club’s management barely nine months after taking up the plum job has roughened some feathers.
The club’s president, Bamidele Ologunloluwa, refuted the allegation of interference as a preemptive action by the coach following a series of recent unimpressive results in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Ologunloluwa, in a statement by the club’s Media Manager, Femi Atolagbe, said there was never a time he or any member of the club’s management directly interfered in the coaches’ job.
Boboye, who announced his resignation on social media immediately after Sunshine Stars suffered a 1-0 defeat against Heartland FC on match day 11 of the NPFL, had cited unending interference in his job as a major reason for quitting.
“While his resignation is accepted, we wish him success in his future endeavour,” Ologunloluwa reacted.
“It must be known that the duty of any football club management is to ensure that things are done in line with the set target of the team and anything on the contrary, the management has to speak out.
“It is also a known fact that coaches do have their favourite players, even when they are not the club’s best. Such must, however, not be detrimental to the aspirations of the team.
“As a manager who is familiar with his players and noticing that Sunshine Stars were gradually deviating from the set target, all I did was to give subtle advice against the express consideration of players that were not adding value to the team and, in a reversal of fortune, dropping those on good form.
“The talented CHAN Eagles invitee Promise Awosanmi would have been dropped permanently by Boboye but I advised against such. Those who thronged Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri would attest to the youngster’s remarkable performance despite Sunshine Stars’ loss.
“It was fear of the unknown that made Boboye announce his resignation as the club’s Technical Adviser; he walked away in 2015, so this is not the first time he has deliberately abandoned us midway into the season.
“It is also preposterous for Boboye to solely claim credit for avoiding relegation last season, alleging a lack of support from management. Sunshine Stars would not have survived had necessary logistical support not been provided by management and government.”
Sunshine Stars have lost three matches consecutively and are 14th on the NPFL log with 13 points, scoring 8 goals and conceding 13 from 11 matches.
Eighteen-Eleven Media