Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan on Tuesday assured that they were fully prepared to win honours in the 2023/2024 Nigerian football season.
3SC gave the assurances during an interactive session with sports journalists at their secretariat, saying they were hopeful of emerging as one of the country’s continental representatives the following season.
The club’s Executive Chairman, Babatunde Olaniyan, said they have put in place all that was necessary to excel when the 2023/2024 season eventually gets underway.
”We have had a very successful pre-season, playing in two tournaments where we won one and reached the semi-finals of the other one.
”We equally played a number of friendlies, and we have through all these assessed ourselves and we are confident of a successful season when it kicks off in the coming days,” he said.
Olaniyan, a former Deputy Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, also said their players were in a good shape.
”We have nothing to worry about regarding the players, except for a few who are undergoing treatment but will soon recover.
”This is not going to affect us in any way because it is part of the game, and we are all aware of how to deal with such a situation,” he added.
The retired football referee however said what could have been their only worry was in the area of funds.
“Considering the financial aspect of our campaign, what should have put us in a state of panic was the funds needed. But that is being taken care of too.
”Gov. Seyi Makinde, our number one supporter, has given us assurances of increased funding. We are sure he will live up to expectations, keep his promise and keep to his words as usual,” he said.
The club’s Technical Adviser, Gbenga Ogunbote, while speaking also assured that he and his technical crew colleagues had done all they needed to do to put the players in good shape.
”We have done our part, and we will continue to do our best so as to reach the goals of doing better than we did last season.
”From what we have seen from our pre-season activities, and the closed camping we just returned from, we are fully set for the new season,” he said.
Ogunbote added that he and his players equally had the assurances of the club management that their performances would be complemented by prompt payment of bonuses and allowances.
”We have the assurances of the club management in this regard. Already, we know that the club has not always been owing us salaries. That payment has always been prompt.
“Now, the club chairman has told us that there will be immediate payment of our bonuses and allowances.
”So, there is nothing that is going to distract us from making all our fans, supporters and the state government proud,” he said.
Also, the club’s captain, Waheed Omololu told newsmen that he and his teammates were ready for the season’s challenges and were determined to excel.
”The club has prepared us very well for the new season, and I and my teammates are ready to do well to justify the efforts put in.
”Our eyes are on winning honours, and the worst should be a ticket to represent the country on the continent in the 2024/2025 season,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the interactive session with the media in Ibadan also had in attendance the club’s General Manager, Oladimeji Lawal.
Apart from other senior management staff of the club, the playing personnel was represented by Omololu, Taofeek Malomo, Darlington Ovunda, Raheem Quadri and several other players.
