THE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Hon. Tajudeen Salami, has expressed concern over Shooting Stars Sports Club’s (3SC) early exit from the CAF Confederation Cup, describing the development as disappointing after 27 years of waiting for the Oluyole Warriors to return to continental football.
Salami stated this during a media chat with a popular radio station in Ibadan over the weekend, where he lamented that 3SC could only manage two matches against Tunisian club side CS Sfaxien before crashing out of the prestigious continental competition.
According to him, several factors contributed to the club’s disappointing campaign, particularly the circumstances surrounding the first-leg encounter at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
He identified inadequate home support and player fatigue, among other issues, as some of the factors that affected the team’s performance.
Salami, however, said the current challenges could be turned around through deliberate investment, effective management and a comprehensive restructuring of the club.
He promised to embark on a total rebranding of Shooting Stars if elected, stressing that his administration would focus on repositioning the historic club as a competitive force in Nigerian and African football.
He said sports would occupy a strategic position in his youth-development agenda, noting that a vibrant sports sector could provide opportunities for young people while also contributing to the economic development of Oyo State.
Among the key areas he identified for intervention are:
1. Improved Funding for the Club
Salami promised better funding for the management of Shooting Stars to enable the club to operate more efficiently and compete at a higher level.
2. Upgrade of Adamasingba Stadium
He pledged to prioritise the upgrading of Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, to meet FIFA and CAF standards. According to him, securing international accreditation for the stadium would not only boost sporting activities but also create economic opportunities for businesses across Oyo State.
3. Better Incentives for Players
He promised improved welfare packages and incentives for players, saying adequate motivation would be essential to attracting and retaining quality talents and improving performance
4. Continuous Training for Coaches
Salami also proposed regular training and capacity development for coaches, with emphasis on modern football techniques and contemporary coaching methodologies, so they can remain competitive with their counterparts internationally.
5. Stronger Engagement with Supporters
He said his administration would give greater attention to the Shooting Stars Supporters Club by maintaining constant engagement and providing the necessary support to strengthen the relationship between the team and its supporters.
6. Sports as a Revenue-Generation Tool
Salami further said sports could become an important avenue for increasing the internally generated revenue of Oyo State through improved sporting infrastructure, events, tourism and private-sector participation.
He maintained that Shooting Stars remains an important symbol of Oyo State’s sporting heritage and deserves a strategic approach capable of restoring its competitiveness.
Salami expressed confidence that with the right investment, professional management, improved infrastructure, player welfare and strong grassroots development, Shooting Stars could reclaim its position as one of Nigeria’s leading football clubs and once again make a significant impact on the African football scene.