AHEAD OF NPFL; Issues Before Shooting Stars ‘SC’ Of Ibadan (EPISODE 1) | Lekan Omo Oladipupo

Ahead of the annual New Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), alot is being said about the promotion of our esteemed Shooting Star of Ibadan into the Top Flight League. The Players, Management and Government have all contributed their own quota to ensure that the team moves from where it was to where it ought to be. Shooting star of Ibadan being one of the most Oldest Local Football Team in the Nigeria Professional Football League has gotten a daunting task ahead of them in respect to the upcoming League that is starting next month if the League Management Company doesn’t change the whole arrangements.

Without much Ado, the management and the Players of 3SC at this juncture should understand that Football these days has gotten beyond mere pleasure alone and sheer feferity. It’s now one of the most potent ways to accrue wealth and generate Internal Revenue for the State Government if well managed. These are evident in some landslide major transfers being made lately by some Clubs in the NPFL where they sell players for whooping amount of money. The case of Anayo Iwuala of Enyinba and Solomon Ndah of Akwa United is a good example. The Management of Shooting Star football club should see beyond Government Sponsorship alone. They shouldn’t be limited to what the Government could offer them at this crucial period, rather they should resonate beyond on what they could offer the Government in terms of Internal Revenue.

To state it further, it wouldn’t be a bad idea if the Management of Shooting star has a store where the Replica Jersey of the team and other stationeries will be sold at an affordable price. There are individuals who are interested in buying Jersey of our darling shooting stars at whatever cost. This to a reasonable extent could be a replica of what Akwa United and Vandrezzer Football Club are doing presently.

As a Lover of Nigeria Football League, the shooting star of Ibadan at this juncture while we need fresh legs to assist the players that help the Team to reach the NPFL, it should be noted that only competent players should be targeted. It’s evident that competent players most times attracts some major sponsorship which is needed in the resucitation of the team lost glory. This is evident when VIVA signed a sponsorship deal with Kano Pillars during his short stint with the Club before he was signed by a Turkish League Team.

On the final note, the Management under the Leadership of Dimeji Lawal, the Coaches under The Leadership of Edith Agoye and the league of players being led by esteemed Egbon Omololu Abiodun Derof should see the need to settle any internal rancour between the players, coaches and other crucial stakeholders before the much anticipated league kicks off. Our dear Shooting Star must not go back to Egypt.

Lekan Omo Oladipupo

Soka, Ibadan.