Football psychologist Kehinde Adeyemi has appealed to supporters of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to remain patient with the team’s technical crew, urging fans to resist personal attacks on members of the coaching staff, particularly the club’s Sporting Director, Tobi Adepoju, and Coach Salisu Yusuf.
Adeyemi said the Oluyole Warriors’ early-season struggles are not unusual in football and warned against drawing conclusions about the team or blaming individuals after just seven matches of the league season.
According to him, the failure to secure adequate home victories as expected should not be enough reason to cast aspersions on members of the technical setup, stressing that there is still ample time for the team to turn its fortunes around.
Adeyemi, the only English FA-trained football psychologist in Nigeria, defended Adepoju against criticism while explaining the responsibilities of a sporting director in the modern game.
He noted that the position is primarily advisory and administrative in relation to the technical department, including ensuring that the right personnel are recruited to manage the team.
“The Sporting Director does not sit on the bench with the coaches; hence, he should not be targeted,” Adeyemi said.
He acknowledged the emotional attachment supporters have to the club and admitted that he, too, feels the disappointment when the team fails to win.
“Football is very emotional. Even today, I won’t be able to sleep. But what we are asking for is understanding that things are going to be right soon,” he said.
“The team just played seven games in this season, and it remains 31. To qualify for continental football is not really about who wins at the early stage but the team that finishes better at the end of the league.
“I can understand the fans’ feelings because I also want us to be winning matches, and don’t forget that all the players and technical crew will also collect bonuses for winning, but it is football. We need to understand its dynamics, which entails ups and downs.”
Adeyemi further identified chance conversion as one of the team’s major concerns, rather than a lack of organisation or creativity.
He pointed out that Shooting Stars have created several scoring opportunities in their matches but have struggled to convert them.
“They played and created many chances during the games. The problem is converting the chances. If they played and were not coordinated and could not create a single chance, it would have been another case,” he added.
The football psychologist also expressed confidence in the ability of Shooting Stars manager Coach Salisu Yusuf, describing him as an experienced tactician with an impressive coaching pedigree spanning more than two decades.
Yusuf began his managerial career with Nasarawa United in 2002 and has subsequently worked with several of Nigeria’s leading clubs, including Kano Pillars, Rangers International, and Enyimba. He was most recently in charge of Coton Sport in Benin.
At the international level, Yusuf has served as an assistant coach of the Super Eagles and has also handled the Super Eagles B team and the Nigeria U-23 side. In 2018, he guided the home-based Super Eagles to the final of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco.
Adeyemi, who is also the Director of Sports at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, believes Yusuf’s extensive experience, knowledge of Nigerian football, and track record of developing local players make him well equipped to lead the Oluyole Warriors through the challenges of the season.
“His wealth of experience, deep understanding of Nigerian football, and proven ability to work with and develop homegrown talent make him a valuable addition to our technical setup as we prepare for the challenges ahead,” he said.
With the league season still in its early stages, Adeyemi urged supporters to channel their passion into constructive support for the team, insisting that the ultimate judgment should come at the end of the campaign rather than after the opening few fixtures.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
