3SC Dismiss Relocation Rumours, Reaffirm Commitment to Ibadan Home Ground

The management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) has dismissed reports suggesting that the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is considering relocating the club from Ibadan due to concerns over the condition of the Lekan Salami Stadium pitch.

Chairman of the Oluyole Warriors, Hon. Taiwo Lekan Salami, has assured supporters that the club will continue to play its home matches in Ibadan, stressing that urgent steps are already being taken to restore the playing surface to acceptable standards.

Concerns over the pitch were formally communicated to the club in a letter from the NPFL board, signed by the league’s Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi. The correspondence reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the Lekan Salami Stadium pitch, particularly in light of the league’s recently secured broadcast and television rights, which place increased emphasis on pitch quality and overall match presentation.

Reacting to the development, Salami explained that the club has moved swiftly to support the Oyo State Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Oyo State Sports Council, the agencies responsible for the management of the stadium. He noted that efforts are focused on resolving key challenges affecting pitch maintenance, especially the issue of inadequate water supply.

“We do not have a home match for about two weeks, and all other activities at the stadium have been suspended,” Salami said. “This gives us enough time to restore the pitch to a lush green condition. The major challenge has been water supply, and we have stepped in to complement the efforts of the agencies in charge.”

The 3SC chairman reiterated that there is no plan to move the club away from Ibadan, adding that the management remains committed to ensuring the Lekan Salami Stadium meets NPFL standards ahead of the team’s next home fixture.

Shooting Stars, one of Nigeria’s most historic clubs, will now hope that the remedial works restore confidence among league officials and supporters alike, as the NPFL continues to enforce stricter standards following its new broadcast agreements.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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