Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Chairman, Shooting Stars Football club of Ibadan (3SC), Mr. Gbolagade Busari, has warned the gubernatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde, to desist from his projection of doom over the position of the club in Nigeria National League (NNL).

Busari in a statement issued in Ibadan on Wednesday, said rather than projecting doom for the club, he should rather project doom for his gubernatorial aspiration, stating that 3Sc is currently chasing promotion to Nigeria Premier League as the team has already qualified for the Super 8.

He said it was rather unfortunate for a politician gunning to govern the state to be predicting doom for the darling team of the people of the state and by extension, South West, noting that Makinde should rather focus on his fruitless political endeavor instead of dabbling into a terrain he knows little of.

According to him, the state government will be ready to finance a public governance course for Makinde to be equipped on governance matters, adding that his outbursts over governmental issues shows a pathetic lack of understanding of governance.

Busari emphasized that he needs to learn more on the day-to-day operation of public institutions in order to understand and appreciate that running a sole proprietorship is not the same as governing a state.

He maintained that contrary to the concocted lies by Makinde that Governor Abiola Ajimobi did not support the team which he described as very disappointing, 3SC has the backing of the governor financially and the welfare of the players is top priority.

He said, "Today, 3SC with the least goals conceded in the national league is and the highest number of goals scored is on course for promotion alongside Bendel Insurance FC because we are the two best clubs in our group with 29 and 28 points respectively. It is mischievous for Mr. Makinde to be politicising Shooting Stars' football club affair and predicting that the team has failed to qualify for promotion to Premier League, even when the league is not yet concluded."

Busari added that the last match of the team in Benin was well attended by officials of the state government led by Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Mr. Abayomi Oke, Special Assistant to Governor Ajimobi on Youth, Mr. Bolaji Repete, Chairman of Oyo FA and thousands of supporters who were given free transportations on Ajumose buses to support the team.

The Chairman stated that the governor has given the club the mandate to get back to the Nigeria Premier League, assuring that the team is confident of promotion this season.

“The welfare of Shooting Stars is one of the best in the country and this a testimony of the commitment of the Governor to make the dream of promotion a reality. We advise Makinde to focus primarily on his ambition and desist from using Shooting Stars as a tool to achieve his ambition,” he said.