NPFL: Gbenga Ogunbote picks positives from Shooting Stars’ defeat to Remo Stars

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Head coach of Shooting Stars Gbenga Ogunbote is not disappointed with his players’ performance following his side’s 2-0 loss to Remo Stars in the 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

The Ibadan-based side put up an impressive first-half display including scoring a goal that was ruled out due to an infringement inside the box but two goals conceded in the second half seal victory for the Sky Blue Stars.

The former Sunshine Stars coach hoped his team can pick its first win ahead of the game but the reverse was the case.

“I am not disappointed with my team but just that we had some careless moments. It was supposed to be a keenly contested game but sometimes things happen,” Ogunbote told journalists after the South West Derby.

“It’s a league and not a knockout. We are working towards winning games. We thought we would start with this game but unfortunately, we didn’t. I still want to see our goal that was disallowed before I can make comments on it.

“If it counted, maybe it would have spurred us to do better than we did. Be it as it may, it’s a local derby.”

The former Remo Stars gaffer nonetheless described the two goals conceded courtesy of Alex Aghahowa (own goal) and Godwin Odibo as careless moments.

“We had some careless moments that we still need to work on. It’s still a work in progress,” Ogunbote continued.

“The first goal was from a counter. Our recovery was poor and we will need to work on it. Quadri is not playing for the first time. His role has been changed.

“He played in Jos from the right full-back position and he did very well. Every player that is in the team has equal rights of playing. Who plays is our own prerogative right. We choose players as per their performances in training.”

With two points from three games, Shooting Stars dropped into the relegation zone and will hope to pick its first win of the campaign against El-Kanemi Warriors in Ibadan on January 29.