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Govt withdraws Shooting Stars Sports Club grant

Govt withdraws N350m 3SC grant

Posted: 2010-04-16 18:24

Shooting Stars Sports Club have been plunged into serious financial crisis after the Oyo State government questioned the management's expenses and then withdrew a grant of N350 million earlier approved for the club.

The Ibadan club have been struggling underthe weight of massive fan expectations, but have struggled to get the finance required to match those expectations.

Shooting have been on a monthly grant of N16.8 million from the Oyo State government, and this month, General Manager Mutiu Adepoju had a request of N350 million approved.

Club sources told KickOffNigeria.com that the huge sum was meant to pay outstanding wages, bonuses and sign-on fees.

But soon after signing that approval, the state government, through the office of the Sports Commissioner did an about-turn and queried the club's previous expenses, saying they are way too high.

In the interim, release of the grant was held back.

This has stalled the club's attempt to hire a new coach, with Adepoju having taken charge of coaching duties since Philip Boamah was fired last December.

Players are also being owed entitlements, including unpaid sign-on fees, and the team's performance has suffered as a result, with 3SC lying 16th, just one place and one point above the relegation zone.

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SANCHEZ: 2010-04-16 20:23

Mutiu Adepoju, Oyo state govt and N360 million. So, Mr Adepoju with all his experience and exposure can not hook up a sponsor for 3sc football club. He will not get anywhere this season with the state govt cos they are saving up funds for the next election, 3sc in not Akala's cup of tea now. Adepoju must approach the corporate world like its done all over the world if he hopes to achieve anything in Ibadan.

coache: 2010-04-16 20:42

Countdown to 2010: More Random Thoughts AND 6 African Teams
It is on record that the only continent that its confederation champion did not qualify for the mundial is Africa albeit Egypt. It is also on record that Nigeria defeated France on one of my favourite days last year. But to the South African Bafana Bafana, 'it will be nice to be sharing the same field with players like Anelka and Henry' is what two of their players retorted to saying when they were pitched in the same group with France. Two opposite mindsets. We went to their backyard in France won them and the Bafana's are just contended sharing the same field with their key players. What a way some African players think.

As far as the world cup is concerned, some football ****ysts in Nigeria do not remember Greece and South Korea. All we focus on is Messi and not the full Argentine squad. What if Messi is injured before the world cup and cannot recover before the Nigeria game. LOL. Judge for yourself even though I am not saying he will not be there. Please do not get me wrong. Ok, we need to beat South Korea and win Greece at least for the sake of one of my Greek colleagues whom we share the same office. Though he reckons he does not like the Greek team because they play only to win, no artistry. And 'according to a close source to a German in my office who asked to be anonymous' Lol, Nigerian journalists for you, he also likes the flare of the Nigerian and Brazilian team. Everybody like beautiful football. To the German, who grew up in Frankfurt and saw the exploits of Okocha when he was a kid, thinks football should be enjoyed with artistry. His German team is good but they do not play and win with flare. A fact in which he told our 'anonymous' he does not like about the German team.

The Ivorien team even though they are star studded, still do not have the mentality to win at the big stage. They mostly rely on marabouts, 'muti' and jazz to win games. My Malawian friend who once lived in Ivory Coast recounted how it was rumoured that Omar Ben Sallah manhandled his son because the boy mistakenly threw away his magic portion. And the Ivorien super star thought he was finished and descended on the young man only to find himself in jail in France. The Ghanaian team is blessed, with or without injuries to their 'over aged' stars, they still have the right mindset like their Nigerian counterparts. Moreover, the Serb, Milovan Rajevac has shown how good he his tactically by using inexperienced U-20 boys to cause a stir in Angola. The Camerounian team too is good because when the chips are down, they play the African football. Strength for strength, muscle for muscle, bone for bone. The Algerian team, from what I saw of them against Malawi in Angola, what you need against them is to try and score them first. They will start using French/Arabic to curse themselves on the field and before you know it, you would have torn them to shreds. They need to be matured in their game.

Should Nigeria with the right mindset play African football with Argentina the way the Kanan Biyik's, Oman Biyik's, Stephen Tawtaw's, Roger Milla's did to Maradona in 1990, the sky will just be a starting point. I believe in Lars (even though he might adopt a defensive tactics going by his age), I believe in my Eagles. BUT LET US NOT PLAY EUROPEAN FOOTBALL AGAINST EUROPEANS, A MIXTURE OF OUR AFRICAN RUGGEDNESS AND EUROPEAN TACTICS WILL JUST DO THE MAGIC COME JUNE.