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Ex-3SC player Laments  over ‘unfulfilled promises’ by Oyo State

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Thirty-Three years after the Ibadan darling club, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), won the maiden CAF Cup in 1992, one of the players, Gordon Osusu, has alleged that Oyo State government has not met his promises to the players.

In a personal letter written to Governor, Seyi Makinde, over what he termed ‘selective treatment and unfulfilled promises’ to some members of the club, he said, “till date, all efforts in this direction have proved abortive. The story remains come today, come tomorrow. This is not honourable to the goodwill of the good people of Oyo State and to the good government of the state as well.”

3SC, led then by the late Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, won the maiden CAF Cup donated by the Pillar of Sports in Africa, the late Chief MKO Abiola.To appreciate the players and officials for the honour and glory done to the state, the then Governor, Chief Kolapo Olawuyi Ishola, rewarded them handsomely including allocation of plots of Lands at Ajoda New Town.

In his letter to Governor Makinde, Osusu said, “My name is God’stime Gordon Osusu, a member of the Shooting Stars football Club of Ibadan 1992 set, and I do earnestly commend you for the good leadership and extraordinary works you are delivering to our beloved Oyo State and to the good people of the state.

“Your Excellency, on November 28, 1992, Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan, won the first CAF Cup. It is rather sad that up till date, we are yet to receive the land promise made by the Governor over 33 years ago. Series of letters and meetings have been written and held as regards the above matter for the Oyo State Housing Corporation to formerly hand over the plots of land allocated to us (Shooting Stars Football Players and Members),” he alleged.

Osusu continued: “I personally wrote a Letter of Demand to the General Manger of Oyo State Housing Corporation; Mr. T. S. Lawal dated July 15, 2025, with reply to their letter dated March 18, 2025, with Ref No. NTA/ED/11.795/DETS/6 with the Caption ‘Re: Offer Of Plot Allocation’.

“They notified that I write a letter to the General Manager, Oyo State Housing Corporation demanding for my Deed of Sublease since the plot has been allocated to me already, till date nothing has been done and every effort to get the allocated plots of land has proved abortive.

“Having come this far on this matter, we, the Shooting Stars Football Club players of 1992 set, that won the First CAF Cup on November 28, 1992, therefore, humbly wish to bring this situation to the notice of the Sports-loving Governor, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde and Nigerians in general that the Land Allocated to us by the then Governor, Mr. Kolapo Ishola at Ajoda New town has not been given to us by the Oyo State Housing Corporation.

“Your Excellency, Sir. Let it be known that the Oyo State Housing Corporation has been playing pranks with us (Shooting Stars players 1992 set) for years now. Some of the players have passed on to glory without the honour of the promised land made by the state. These late players include: Ajibade Babalade and Ogbein Fawole.

“Some other triumphant players like the Captain Friday Christopher, Andrew Uti and Coach Niyi Akande have gone blind as we speak today. We are tired of being fooled by the Oyo State Housing Corporation and we thought we should most respectfully let the Executive Governor of Oyo, and Nigerians know about our dilemma. We demand that the right thing be done and our lands allocated to us.

“We most confidently trust the good administration of our sports loving Governor Seyi Makinde and believe our prayers shall receive his attention to further keep Oyo State as the Pacesetters in Nigeria,” Osusu stated.

 

 

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Football Pundit Lauds Chelle’s Effort In Monitoring Nigeria League Players

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A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.

Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.

“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”

He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.

“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”

“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.

“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.

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LGA Boss Pledges To Reintroduce School Sports 

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The chairman of the Khana Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, Bariere Thomas, has revealed that plans are underway to commence school sports at the primary and secondary school levels in the area.
According to him, school sports that were primarily used to discover young talents had become a thing of the past, adding that one of the ways to discover young talents is to organize programs that will expose talents at the grassroots level.
Thomas said this on Saturday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after a novelty football match between Khana All-Stars and council appointees.
The match was held to mark the birthday of Felix Ibor, the Supervisor for Education in Khana LGA, at the Bori Police Station field.
The LGA boss reiterated that organizing competitive sporting events in primary and secondary schools is one of the best ways to bring out the best in young people and help to achieve their potential.
“What we are doing in the Khana Local Government Area is to consolidate on the sports we know, which are wrestling, cycling, football, and others,” he said.
He added that he is concerned about the competitive nature of wrestling on the global stage; at Khana LGA, for instance, they are focusing on how to consolidate the sports they know more about.
Thomas described Felix Ibor as an academic whom he has known and worked with since before he became LGA chairman.
He commended both teams for the novelty match, saying that it was held to celebrate Ibor’s birthday.
Ibor thanked the chairman and both teams for celebrating with him, and he prayed that God would also bless them.
Meanwhile, Ibor also presented a set of Jessy to the chairman for the council team.
Kiadum Edookor
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Ezechukwu Eyes Double Gold In African Champs

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Teenage Nigerian sprinter Miracle Ezechukwu has set her sights on winning both the 100m and 4x100m relay titles at the 24th African Athletics Championships in Accra, while also targeting a new personal best in the process, Tidesports source.

Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.

The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.

“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.

“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.

Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.

She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.

“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.

The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.

Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.

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