Dele Olaosebikan
HEAD coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Gbenga Ogunbote has said that the club’s victory over Kwara United was a perfect way to gladden the hearts of the team’s teeming supporters and fans.
In a chat with the media after his side’s 2-0 win over the Harmony Boys, coach Ogunbote also described the win as a big relief for his team.
“I’m happy we have come back to winning ways now, knowing full well how painful the way we lost our last away game, we needed to win to make our people happy.
“We needed to win to enhance the confidence level of the team, unfortunately, we played another derby, it was a big game but thank God we were able to win and at least with this win, I want to say that the confidence level of the team has risen again.”
On the improvement in the scoring ability of the strikers since the start of the second round, the former Sunshine Stars and Remo Stars coach attributed it to blending and full recovery of some players who had fitness issues in the first round.
“By the start of the second half, the level of understanding has improved and some of them, who have not actually been match fit, like Christian Pyagbara, have regained full fitness.
“So I can say the difference is understanding and everybody is becoming aware that we have a target and we are trying to see how we can meet the target.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that the Ibadan-based team returned to winning ways on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Kwara United of Ilorin.
The Matchday 28 night game, played at the Lekan Salami Stadium, saw the Ibadan soccer lords grab the maximum points via two second-half strikes.
Determined to banish the memories of the 1-2 painful loss to Niger Tornadoes on Matchday 27, coach Gbenga Ogunbote-tutored lads took the game to the visitors from the start of the game.
After surviving the opening minutes onslaught from the Stars, coach Kabiru Dogo’s lads later settled down to fight back.
After a barren first half, the Ibadan soccer lords finally got the breakthrough three minutes after the restart through Gideon Monday’s stunning shot.
The goal brought out the best in both sides as Shooting Stars pushed to increase the tally while the Harmony Boys made frantic efforts to level up.
The Oluyole Warriors put the game beyond the hard-fighting visitors a few minutes to the end of the game when Adewale Yusuf nodded home Ayobami Junior’s well-floated free kick.
3SC, who has moved to the sixth position with 43 points from 28 matches, will next travel to Kano for a Matchday 29 fixture against Kano Pillars.
Remaining Fixtures in April
⚽MD 29
🆚Kano Pillars
🗓️Sunday, April 7
🏟️Sani Abacha Stadium
🕓 4.00 pm
⚽MD 30
🆚Lobi Stars
🗓️Sunday, April 14
🏟️Lekan Salami Sports Complex
🕓 4.00 pm
⚽MD 31
🆚Heartland FC
🗓️Friday, April 19
Awka City Stadium
🕓 4.00 pm
⚽MD 32
🆚Sunshine Stars FC
🗓️Sunday, April 28
🏟️Lekan Salami Stadium
🕓 4.00 pm,D
Note: Date and kick-off time is subject to change by the NPFL
Eighteen-Eleven Media