3SC call off boycott

24 June 2011

Shooting Stars have called off a boycott as they welcome Gombe United Sunday back at their home ground of Ibadan after a six-month absence.

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) have approved for 3SC to play their remaining matches at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium) beginning with the visit of Gombe United.

“Obviously we are happy that we are back in Ibadan. We have five more home games as well as five away matches and we believe playing back in Ibadan in front of our darling fans will improve our performances,” said 3SC general manager Mutiu Adepoju.

The former Eagles skipper also told MTNFootball.com that the draw away at Sharks has lifted the team.

“The team have been lifted by the draw in Port Harcourt and we believe this will get them to do more against Gombe,” he said.

The 1-1 draw was only the second point the ‘Oluyole Warriors’ have recorded away from home this season.

Adepoju is back in sole charge of the team after the club’s board received formal notice to stay clear as a result of the general reorganisation by the new Oyo State government.

He will scoff at reports that the players were planning to boycott Sunday’s match to press home their agitation for the payment of their signing-on fees and other benefits.

Media reports though suggested that it was only an appeal by Adepoju that stopped the players from skipping training Thursday evening and going on to boycott the match.

Adepoju, accompanied by the club’s accountant, has promised the players they will receive some payments before the Gombe clash.

With 34 points from 27 matches Gombe are a point behind 3SC and just hovering above the drop zone.

Gombe shaded this reverse fixture 1-0 at the start of the year.