Technical Adviser of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, Gbenga Ogunbote, said he would be happy if his team emerges the winner of the 2022 Optima Energy Gold Cup Pre season Tournament, but ultimately, he aims at using the tourney to build his team ahead of the new season.
When asked whether he thinks he can win the tournament for the third time, having previously won it twice with two different clubs, the former Lobi Stars and Rangers International said if it happens, he will surely do but insisted that getting his team into shape remains his major aim.
“If it comes our way, we will take it but the ultimate is to use it to shape our team but if we are able to get it, we will gladly take it,” stated the ex Sunshine Stars’ sweat merchant.
Coach Ogunbote, whose side came from a goal down to defeat Beyond Limits 4-1 in the Group B opening fixture, played down the victory, stressing that there were lots of lapses noticed in his side, which he will definitely work on.
“Pre season tournaments are meant to be used to fine-tune your team, and that is exactly what we doing, trying to see what we have, are we getting it right or do we still need to bring in some things?
“we are not going to be carried away, even with the results, I think we still have lots of lapses we have to work on but the win is good for the team , to bring in the confidence level”
He described the youthful Beyond Limits side as a good team,adding. “They had some moments of carelessness in the game, which i knew was going to happen but it is a team that can rattle any team at any time, give it to them, they are a good side”.
Flashing back to the Valuejet Pre season tourney in which his team lost out in the group stage, Oracle as the ex Remo Stars chief tactician is fondly called, explained the essence of the team’s participation in the tourney, which kicked off barely few days after he was officially unveiled as the Technical Adviser of the Oluyole Warriors.
“We didn’t do anything in the first pre season tournament but just to test the strength of the retained players before we can know who and who to bring into the team, that was our main aim of participating in that tournament,” said the soft spoken coach.
