The General Manager of Ibadan-based Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Mr Rasheed Balogun, has revealed the major problem facing the football club.
In his address during the unveiling of the Goodwill Ambassadors of the team’s Supporters Club held at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Thursday, the administrator submitted that rumour mongering has been impeding the progress of the club.
His words “It will surprise all present here that the problem of the team is not exactly funding but rumour mongering. There are too many people peddling callous rumours about everything happening within the House of 3SC.
“These people go to any length to fabricate lies which they plant on the minds of the gullible. Why they are doing this, I do not know. They have forgotten that 3SC is an institution bigger than all of us.”
Balogun then went ahead to admonish all loves and admirers of the club to rally round and form a united front to push the team back to relevance.
While welcoming guests, the Project Coordinator and leader of the Supporters’ Club, Mr Femi Oyeniyi announced that the unveiling of the Goodwill Ambassadors- popular musician, Taye Currency and the Publisher of Parrot Xtra Magazine/PMParrot.com, Olayinka Agboola was the first part of plans to reposition 3SC.
He spoke further “Unveiling our Goodwill Ambassadors is the very first step. Our focus is to raise N500 million for the club. We believe this is exactly possible if we all forge a common front. The government alone cannot continue to fund the club. We want the club to meet world standards. 3SC is a team that has a traditional big name in Africa. We must work hard to ensure that it lives up to its billings.”
In his goodwill message, popular socialite, Mr Semiu Adenekan DJ Semight urged all concerned to join hands to reposition 3SC.
While delivering his message, Taye Adebisi Currency pledged to give his best to contribute to the growth of the team.
Said the musician “I believe in what 3SC stands for. The club is one of those things we use to boast as indigenes of Ibadanland. I am going to pull all the strings I can to make sure I make an impact. I implore us all to continue to pray for both the players and management so that team can return to the elite division.”
In his own speech, Olayinka Agboola expressed appreciation to all those who made the event possible – especially those who came up with all the concepts and programmes that will return 3SC to the expected pedestal in the comity of viable sporting clubs.
He spoke further “When I was first approached by Mr Steve Akadiri on the issue of becoming an Ambassador, I must confess, I never took him serious. However, he was, eventually able to convince me that the task is worth taking up.
“Those who know me and what I do know that I am sincerely interested in 3SC’s welfare – especially the politics and the political ‘wiremesh’ around it.
“In the past 14 years as publishers of PMParrot and Parrot Xtra Magazine, we have continued to do our best for the uplift of the football club.”
He then went ahead to use this opportunity to admonish the owner government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to do all it can to seriously set in motion how to return the club to its former position as a pacesetter on the football scene in Nigeria and indeed Africa.
He said that, by doing this, the government will be helping to uphold the heritage which 3SC stands for.
Agboola continued “by extension, I wish to call on all colleagues in the media profession – our radio stations, television stations and online platforms to work with us so that we can build the right kind of followership for the team. If we do this, the followers will in turn help the club.
“In addition, I implore industry big guns and the corporate world in this part of the country to also join the project of lifting up 3SC. Together, the dream of taking the team to the greatest heights will be achieved.”
While delivering the vote of thanks, the Project’s Consultant, Mr Steve Akadiri revealed that ‘Shooting Stars’ Day would be held on July 12, 2018, adding that “I believe all of us will do our best to make the event a success.”
Others in attendance at the glamorous event were the Chairman of 3SC, Mr Gbolagade Busari, Alhaji Yekeen Ahmed, Mr Akinade Okediran, Mr Gboyega Makinde of the Oyo State Sports Council, Mr Niyi Alebiosu of Oyo SWAN, Hon Kehinde Agboola, Mr Olumide Oludare of Development Support Centre, Ibadan and several other sports lovers.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri and Lanre Olabisi
