13th February, 2012
Angry fans of Shooting Stars have demanded for the sack of club manager, Mutiu Adepoju after the club drew their third home game.
The Ibadan club have already drawn at home with newly-promoted Rising Stars and Gombe United.
They again forced a 1-1 draw at home against Sunshine Stars with fans unhappy that the team are struggling because former international skipper Adepoju was sentimental in sacking 19 players in the close season and their replacements have proved to be a huge disappointment.
“Mutiu Ole (thief in Yoruba)! Mutiu Ole!!!”, sang out the fans after the draw with Sunshine as the 3SC top officials stayed inside the dressing room unable to leave the stadium.
There was more drama at half time when it needed the intervention of some top officials before the fans would allow Sunshine to enter the dressing room.
Striker Atanda Sakibu put Sunshine ahead in the 14th minute to stun the Ibadan fans.
However, Osagona Ighodalor drew ‘The Oluyole Warriors’ level in the 22nd minute but all efforts by 3SC strike force to score a winner were thwarted by their former goalkeeper Segun Oluwaniyi, who made several spectacular saves.
Sunshine star striker Dele Olorundare told MTNFootball.com his club ought to have won the game.
“We played well and deserved victory, but I can’t explain why we did not. 3SC too came out for victory but we are able to stop them. It was a nice game and this is my first game after the injury I sustained against Dolphin,” said Olorundare.
Shooting Stars striker Raheem Owolabi blamed bad luck for their third home draw.
“We did our best in the game, we supposed to beat them but we were unlucky. Segun (Oluwaniyi) was also spectacular in goal for them. But I am sure it will be well with us as the league goes on. Our fans should not lose hope,” said Owolabi.
In Minna, ABS FC of Ilorin were forced to a 1-1 draw by hosts Niger Tornadoes.
Last season’s giant killers ABS drew the first blood in the seventh minute through Abdulrahman Bashir, before the home lads equalised in the 39th minute through Sibi Gwar.
Tornadoes goal scorer Gwar commended their opponents for giving them a good fight and was delighted he salvaged a point for his team.
“It was an interesting and tough match, both sides gave a good account of themselves. I commend ABS for giving us a good fight, We did our best to get the three points but a point is better than nothing, I am happy to score the goal, we will work harder in our subsequent game,” Gwar told MTNFootball.com
ABS coach Erasmus Onuh said his team are gradually finding their feet after a difficult start to the new season.
“We are gradually getting to where I want us to be. We are still not there, but I believe we are on course,” Onuh remarked.
Sharks returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Lobi Stars at Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Sharks opened scoring through youth international Bright Ejike in the 27th minute, before another former youth international Bernard Okorowanta put the game beyond Lobi with a second goal in the 34th minute.
“We did our best but we could not just score, we will do better next time, that is football, you don’t get what you want in games at time despite putting in your best,” said Friday Nimyel of Lobi.
It was a case of no victor, no vanquished at the Ilorin Township Stadium, where Kwara United were held to a 0-0 draw by Enugu Rangers.
Rangers midfielder Ugonna Uzochukwu saw red in the 46th minute with his second booking of the day for perpetual diving as both teams failed to find the back of the net.
Kwara United left back Usman Amodu said: “It was a good game, we gave good account of ourselves. It was a game we should have won, but I can’t say why we were could not. “But we put the draw behind us immediately the final whistle was blown. We are now looking ahead.”