By Saheed Afolabi
Shooting Stars head coach, Gbenga Ogunbote, is gearing up for the highly anticipated derby against Sunshine Stars in Ijebu Ode.
The Oluyole Warriors are looking to build on their narrow win over Bayelsa United as they face the Akure-based side at the Dipo Dina Stadium on Sunday, December 8.
Ogunbote reflects on the team’s disappointing defeats in their previous derby encounters against Remo Stars and Ikorodu City, acknowledging the importance of this match as an opportunity to revitalise their NPFL campaign.
“We regret losing the first two derbies against Ikorodu City and Remo Stars. This is another chance to get it right, and we will give our best effort,” Ogunbote said, as quoted by 3SC.
“All we ask for is fair officiating. With a level playing field, we believe we can achieve a positive result.”
The experienced coach is mindful of the quality of Sunshine Stars, recognizing the Akure Gunners as a formidable opponent. However, he remains confident that his side can compete strongly for the three points.
“Sunshine Stars are no pushovers, and we respect them,” Ogunbote continued.
“But we are prepared to work hard and ensure we get a result. Losing all the derbies would be disappointing.”
Currently, Shooting Stars sit in sixth place on the NPFL table, with 21 points from 15 matches. The clash against Sunshine Stars represents a crucial opportunity for the team to further solidify their position and gain momentum in the league.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
