Six buses, one club: Shooting Stars fans make huge Abeokuta trip

Shooting Stars’ supporters spent their own money to travel from Ibadan in six buses for the club’s 1-0 win over CS Sfaxien at the MKO Abiola Stadium, a result that gave the Nigerian side their first continental victory since returning to Africa after 27 years away.

Lucky Emmanuel scored the only goal in Abeokuta on Saturday evening, also giving Shooting Stars their first continental goal since their return. The 10,000-capacity stadium was around 30% full, with no travelling support from Tunisia, but the loudest section belonged to a small group of fans who had made the journey from Ibadan.

Among them was Prophet Joas Adeseko, who stood outside the stadium with a plastic horn and the memories of 47 years following Shooting Stars.

“The way I’m looking at this game, first of all, I thank God,” he said. “Secondly, I want to give kudos to our governor, Seyi Makinde, and the people around him. I’m also saluting our coach because this game has been fantastic. I didn’t expect the guys to play like this because, out of the 11 players of Tunisia, seven are starting, including the goalkeeper. They are national team players. Last season, we didn’t play like this, so I’m thanking God for this game.”

Adeseko was already looking ahead to the second leg against the Tunisian club, while praising the organisation of Shooting Stars’ defence and calling for more communication in attack.

“Our defenders didn’t confuse themselves, but our forwards also need to talk to themselves,” he said. “Today, I’m very happy, sir.”

Fans fund their own journey

Shooting Stars were forced to play in Abeokuta because of concerns over the playing surface at their usual home, Lekan Salami Stadium. That distance did not stop supporters from travelling.

When asked about the empty seats in the stadium, Adeseko immediately pointed to the effort made by the Ibadan fans.

“It will be empty. Don’t let me deceive you,” he said. “If it is about Abeokuta, I’ll tell you the real thing. The people you are seeing here, you wouldn’t say anything about them. We brought six buses. These are our buses. We also have some other buses and cars from Ibadan.”

He said supporters had paid for the trip themselves rather than relying on the club’s board or another organisation.

“Our pitch is what caused them to bring us to this place,” Adeseko explained. “Let’s say the pitch at Lekan Salami Stadium is the problem. That’s why we came here.”

He also offered an explanation for the limited local attendance in Abeokuta, saying the city’s supporters had not traditionally turned out in large numbers for matches.

“The people in this state don’t like to go out all the time,” he said. “The first time I came to this place, all the fields were empty. Even when Gateway FC was there, they don’t come out to watch them. So we cannot blame them. Even the small boys will come for feeding now. That’s why this place is empty. All these people you are seeing here, we came from Ibadan.”

The financial commitment was significant. Adeseko said the largest buses cost almost ₦120,000 each, while four smaller buses cost about ₦60,000 apiece. Taxis were also used by some supporters.

“It cost all of us a lot of money. We are spending our own money, as you are seeing,” he said. “All our supporters paid for it. It’s not God that gave us the money; we spent our own money. We didn’t look to the board or anybody for it. All of us, the uniforms and everything you are seeing, we gathered together to contribute money and bring ourselves here. I know what is coming from my own pocket, but I know that we are worth it.”

“As I’m looking at this bus now, one bus is almost ₦120,000,” he added. “Then there are taxis. Some of the buses are smaller buses; at least we have four of them. That’s about ₦60,000 each. So, when you put the money together, the supporters don’t look at what they have spent, because we love this club.”

‘It is my blood. It is my soul’

Adeseko’s commitment to Shooting Stars goes back almost half a century. He said he had supported the club since the time Baba Lekan Salami was alive and had no intention of following another Nigerian side.

“I’ve been following this club for, let me say, 47 years, since Baba Lekan Salami was alive,” he said. “I’ve followed this club all this time. I cannot deceive you. I cannot follow any other club in Nigeria again.”

Although he is from Kwara State, where he said people regard him as a supporter of Kwara United, Adeseko said his loyalty remained with Shooting Stars.

“I come from Kwara State. In Kwara State, they call me a supporter of Kwara United. I’ve told them I’m living with them, but I cannot leave Shooting Stars,” he said. “When we are going to Kwara to play against Kwara United, I will still follow Shooting Stars to Kwara. So, this is my state. This club, oh my God, is my heart, my sweet. It is my blood. It is my soul.”

The scene captured the depth of that attachment: a supporter with a horn, surrounded by fellow fans who had paid their own way to a stadium outside their home city, while thousands of seats remained unoccupied.

Shooting Stars now take a narrow 1-0 advantage into the second leg against CS Sfaxien. Whatever the outcome, Adeseko is likely to be travelling again, horn in hand and supporting the club he has followed for 47 years.

Follow the CAF Confederation Cup first round fixtures and results on the official CAF website.