The Chairman,Governing Council of the Ibadan City Polytechnic, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, has urged the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, not to be distracted by criticism.
He gave this charge on Wednesday, when the management team of the Oluyole Warriors paid a courtesy visit on the management of the institution.
The veteran broadcaster, who revealed that he has been monitoring the way critics have been hammering the club since the season commenced, encouraged the officials and players of the Ibadan soccer lords to remain focussed and not to allow criticism to affect them as they get ready for the second round of rhe 2021/22 NPFL season.
“Don’t listen to negative comments or condemnation, no matter what you do, there are some professional critics who will still criticise you.
“Some of them don’t mean well for the club but they will pretend as critics, coming out to condemn you. Don’t be discouraged by these professional critics”.
“Sometimes, you will be forced to say you are giving up, but don’t be distracted. Shooting Stars as a team, is like a spirit.
“At the end of the first round, you finished on the ninth position. I know some people will be saying go and win the league but it is not easy for a team to come from tbe lower division to win the league.
Speaking further, the former Nigerian ambassador to the Republic of Philippines, who charged the team’s critics to “shut up” and stop criticising the team but should instead, join hands together to support the team, said the Ibadan City Polytechnic believes in the Oluyole Warriors.
“Critics should shut up and leave the team alone. They should allow the coaches to do their job. In ICP,, we believe in you, we have Shooting Stars in our blood. We know that Shooting Stars will gladden our hearts.
“Personally, I believe you will finish among the first four clubs at the end of the season and this will show the world who we are”, added Ambasaddor Farounbi, who praised the team for fulfilling its promise to gain promotion to the elite league.
Proprietor of the institution, Dr Amos Ajanaku, while appreciating the 3SC management for the courtesy call on the institution, described the relationship between the club and the school as strong and unbreakable.
“We have been with 3SC for a while now and I don’t think anything can separate the two of us and we have been able to render support to 3SC, moral, financial, anything you can think of.
“We have been together for long and we find it difficult to do any other thing apart from being with 3SC. Even when we want to come to the stadium, we have to select those who will come with us because every of our student wants to be there”.
“3SC is known internationally and we want to go back to that level. Talk of the 80’s when you talk of IICC then, talk of clubs like Zamalek of Egypt. We are looking forward to that time, when we would say we have a match in Tunisia or an Algerian club is coming to Lekan Salami Stadium”, said Dr Ajanaku.
The ICP proprietor urged the management of the club not to mix politics with the activities of the club, particularly in the area of players’ recruitment, stressing that “nothing is wrong with 3SC, the management is okay.
“When it comes to the game, let us be professional, let’s us remove politics by rrecruting the best. 3SC is a football team , just like we have Chelsea, we have Arsenal, we have Man United” asserted the proprietor, who also asssured that the institution will continue to support the team in every aspect, urging the management to always feel free to seek its supportt
Executive Chairman of 3SC, Honourable Babatunde Olaniyan, who led the Oluyole Warriors’ management team on the visit, appreciated the support the ICP has been rendering to the team, describing it as uncommon.
“He explained that the purpose of the visit, was in acknowledgement of the support of the institution and to show appreciation for the supporrt.
While assuring of a better performance from the team in the second round, Akoro, as the 3SC boss is fondly called, revealed that the management of the club, was not leaving any stone unturned to ensure the team gets its right.
“We decided at the management meeting that these people, who come to the stadium in large numbers, in buses, with drums and trumpets, buying tickets, all in order to encourage us, we need to appreciate them and encourage them in our own little way as well.
“So we have decided to give out complimentary tickets to the school, to complement the ones they buy during the team’s home matches.
” I am bold to say that you are one of the best potential supporters we have, with the way you have been backing us morally and financially and we want to let you know that we really appreciate you”, added Honourable Olaniyan, who hailed the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who within two years, remodelled the Lekan Salami Stadium to a world class arena which can play host to top games and even night matches.
Acting General Manager of the Oluyole Warriors, Dimeji Lawal, who started his comments by praising governor Seyi Makinde for appointing somebody with the knowledge of the game (Honourable Olaniyan), as the chairman of the club, equally expressed appreciation to the management and students of the ICP for always being behind the team, even when results were not forthcoming.
He assured that the management and the Edith Agoye led technical crew will work hard to ensure that the team finish well in the season, so to make the government and the good people of Oyo State as well as all the supporters, including the ICP, happy.
Director of Administration and Supply of the 3SC, Mr Rahman Olapade, described the support of the ICP for the club as massive right from when the team was battling for promotion, hence the decision of the management to pay what he described as “thank you visit”, on the institution, even as he solicited for more of such.
Shooting Stars’ Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Kehinde Ogundiran, members of staff, Olumide Ojedeji and Mr Abdulahi Oni, were part of the 3SC team on the visit.
Apart from Anbassador Farounbi and Dr Ajanaku, top members of the ICP management, including the school’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Adewale Hastrup, Mrs Ajanaku, among others, were also on ground to receive the 3SC management team.
