TECHNICAL Adviser of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Gbenga Ogunbote, has opined that it would have been suicidal had his team surrendered all points to Plateau United in Sunday’s matchday 22 duel.
In his post-match interview after the Oluyole Warriors were held to a 1-1 draw by the Peace Boys, Ogunbote, though expressed disappointment over the failure of his team to win, however, took solace in the fact that a point was secured.
The former Rangers International handler attributed the inability of his team to get a seventh consecutive victory to a momentary loss of concentration.
‘It is quite unfortunate that we couldn’t manage the goal. It was a result of a loss of concentration. It was an error on our part.
“It was a big setback for us because we had such an opportunity against a big club like Plateau United, but sometimes, it’s like that, all we need to do is go back to the drawing board and make corrections”.
The Oracle, as the tactician is fondly called, continued. “If we had taken the advantage today, maybe it would have been a different ball game, but be that as it may, one point on the road by this time is something”, stated the former Sunshine Stars sweat merchant, who hinted that his side’s mission to Jos was to win.
“It would have been suicidal if we had conceded the second goal. They (Plateau United) showed a killer instinct, you saw the way they came at us, we were careless, they scored, and they fought to get the second goal”, added the 3SC gaffer.
On the title race, the highly revered tactician said. “I think we have 17 games to determine that, so nobody has won it, nobody has lost it. Every team in the premiership league has an equal chance of winning it”, he submitted.
The players put up a brave performance to maintain their impressive run of form as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Plateau United of Jos.
The Oluyole Warriors narrowly missed making it seven straight wins as the hosts fought back to level up just a minute after the stars went ahead
The pulsating first half of the matchday 22 encounter, played at the New Jos Stadium, saw the 3SC defensive quartet of Desmond Ojjietefian, Ayodeji Bamidele, Ikouwem Utin and Skipper Gali Falke, alongside Alex Aghahowa, complement the superlative efforts of goalkeeper Abiodun Akande.
Akpan Joshua, Daddy Abdulrahman, Tijani Kabiru, Nonso Nzediegwu and Sodiq Ibrahim led the push on the other side, with both sides unable to get the breakthrough in the first half.
The two teams upped their game in the second half with the homers coming out of their half, thus giving the Oluyole Warriors room to operate.
The Ogunbote-led technical crew introduced the trio of Ephraim Nwachukwu, Samuel Ayanrinde, and Ekeson Okorie to increase the pressure on their hosts.
After a couple of misses, the Ibadan soccer lords finally broke the deadlock through Tijani Kabiru, whose long-range screamer, off a pass from Akpan Joshua, beat goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu hands down.
The ovation that greeted the goal had hardly died down when Albert Hilary levelled up for the homers.
The Oluyole Warriors were unlucky not to have reclaimed their lead as they missed glaring opportunities later on.
Plateau United then made a late surge for the winning goal but the 3SC backline stood their ground, while goalkeeper Abiodun Akande made daring saves to deny the Peace Boys.
The draw ensured the Stars remain second in the league and will next Sunday play host to Bendel Insurance in a matchday 23 fixture.
Eighteen-Eleven Media