| Now that 3SC have been
relegated
By Muyiwa Akande
Monday, September 11, 2006
I can still remember vividly in 1984, as a boy of nine years
old, how sad I was when the Cairo based Zamalek FC defeated
IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan to win a continental trophy.
I was inconsolable for many days after that unfortunate incident
and, ever since, I have been an ardent supporter of the team,
a decision highly influenced by my dad’s love for the
club.
That is why recent developments in the team have been of great
concern to me. For the third time in the history of the club,
Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) will be campaigning in the
lower cadre of the country’s football league, having
being relegated alongside Sharks FC, Berger and Ranchers Bees.
It is without doubt that the Ibadan-based club remain one
of the greatest clubs, not only in Nigeria but also in Africa.
It is one of the few clubs on the continent that have lifted
continental trophies. In fact, it was the first club in the
country to win such trophy in the mid 70s, before Rangers
and other clubs followed suit.
But despite the enviable pedigree and unprecedented large
followership and characteristics shared with very few clubs
like Rangers, Stores and, lately, Enyimba, the Oyo State government
sponsored team have not been able to establish itself as a
truly great club that is well managed though this is not peculiar
to them, as almost all the clubs in the country suffer similar
fate.
A combination of an ineptitude management which, most of the
time, works at cross purposes with the coaching crew, lack
of basic motivation and undue governmental interference among
others have consigned the club to its pitiable condition.
For the club to move forward and return immediately to the
elite league, it must avoid the pitfalls of last season.
No matter how versatile and technically sound a coach is,
he cannot cross the touchline during a match. His players
will do the business on the field. This truth underscores
the importance of recruiting the best legs for next season,
especially ‘deadly’ strikers. Last season’s
record of a paltry 16 goals in 18 matches is unbecoming of
a great club, more so when it could have escaped relegation
after tying on 24 points with Lobi Stars and Gombe United,
but their better scoring ability saved them the drop.
The unwholesome practice of recruiting players based on sentimental
reasons should be discarded while 3SC should be known as an
equal opportunity team that lay emphasis on talent, excellence
and productivity.
Going by the performance of the German Coach, Siegfried Bahner,
since he took over from Kafaru Alabi at the beginning of second
round of matches during the concluded season, one can infer
that he is not a pushover. To have coached the Ghanaian team,
Accra Hearts of Oak was not a mean feat and I think the problem
was that he arrived when the damage had already been done.
But if the management and the state government feel otherwise
about his competence, there are tested and experienced coaches
that can be engaged.
Another crucial issue the club have to pay particular attention
to is that of management. The combination of good players
and technically sound coaches might not translate to success
if the management is not knowledgeable and committed to the
club’s vision. One cannot forget the worthy contributions
of tested administrators like Chief Adegboye Onigbinde and
Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi to the club’s string of successes,
especially in the 1990s.
Administrators of their exemplary standing will be needed
as the club seeks promotion to the elite league next season.
Pending the fulfillment of the promise by successive governments
to privatize the club, adequate funding of the club is also
a key for success. Prompt release of funds for the payment
of salaries, allowances and sign-on fees of players and officials
could only drive them to give their best. Many clubs that
have succeeded in the country in recent times have ridden
on the back of generous funding by their financiers.
Examples of Enyimba and Kwara United readily come to mind.
As it is common with clubs with intimidating followership,
the Supporters Club will have to be properly educated on their
role. As the Nigerian Football League (NFL) has restated its
commitment to zero tolerance for violence at match centres,
it will be good if the supporters could be adequately tutored
on the implications of any act of violence on the fortunes
of their darling club.
Though the Oyo State government still remains the owners of
the club, but it will do the club a whole lot of good if the
management is given the free hand to run it without needless
interference. It is true that he who pays the piper dictates
the tune, but sometimes sound business reasoning suggests
the payer should be more interested in the output of the piper
rather than the amount of the payer’s opinions, advise
and interventions which could, at the end of the day, amounted
to distractions.
Though this might fall into the long term plan of the club,
this is the appropriate time to resurrect its privatisation
plan. A lot of work was done in this regard during the tenure
of Chief Onigbinde as the General Manager, but subsequent
managers have abandoned the plan.
I think it will be a good idea if it forms a part of the mandate
of the next management team. Many of the supporters are itching
to be part owners, when the club eventually gets listed on
the Stock Exchange.
The strength of a champion does not lie in not falling, but
rising gallantly each time he falls. Today as a club, we are
down, but with the right attitude, right strategies and right
people, we will rise up to claim our rightful position. God
Bless 3SC.
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