1998 Double Champions 3SC Players, beg Gov Makinde to Redeem 23 year old Pledge
By Ogundele Olanrewaju
Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), formerly referred to as IICC Shooting Stars is one of Nigeria’s most decorated clubs domestically and internationally.
And the club’s last trophy was won in 1998 when they won the sub regional club championship the WAFU Cup. Earlier in the same year, Shooting Stars, led by Captain Sunday Adu, had also won the domestic league title.
The Sunday Adu captained side had so many household names in their fold at the time.
Those in the 1998 set included the 1997 goal king Pius Daniel, as well as legendary Andrew Aikoumogbe.
Super Eagles defensive stalwart Seyi Ogunsanya and Patrick Ovie were some of the names that make the team so strong that year.
Like the the popular cliche that success has many relations. Promises and promises were the order of the day, one of which was a landed property promised by the then Military Governor, Com-Pol Amen Oyakhire
Oyakhire did redeem the pledge by giving all members of the team C of O for the Lands at the Kolapo Ishola G.R.A.
.
But surprisingly, when a democratically elected Governor, Lam Adesina came to power the C of Os given to the players were withdrawn on excuse that the choice of area allocated to the players was too low for their personalities.
The administration promised to give them a better place, but the promise is yet to be fulfilled 23 years after.
In the past 23 years, members of the team which won double titles, had had unpalatable experiences. Some are too unpleasant to talk about as no fewer than four members of the team including their Chairman Elder Bode Oyewole have died unsung while waiting for the pledge to be redeemed.
Those still alive among the members of the 3SC’s golden era are bitter as they alleged that they were deliberately left out of the recent friendly match between 3SC lLegend and Super Eagles Legends organized to commission the Remodelled Lekan Salami stadium on September 1st, as no member of the Illustrious squad invited while the members of the sets after them who won nothing for the club featured in the friendly lined up to celebrate the historic feat achieved by Governor Seyi Makinde.
The 3SC 1998 Set however appreciated the genuine commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde to public welfare and the sincerity of the State Helmsman, who is on threshold of being the most commited sports loving governor in the transforming sports in the state whose achievements are evident in the excellent performance of Team Oyo at the last National Sports Festival in Edo and the remodeling Lekan Salami stadium and other stadia across the pacesetter state.
The surviving members of 1998 set, who won the club’s last silverwares, implore Governor Makinde to look into their plight as many of them are suffering presently.
The former player of 3SC affirmed their belief that the Governor has in him the milk of human kindness, and that’s why they are crying out to him to put smiles on their faces by redeeming the pledge made twenty three years ago, adding that government is continuous.
The retired players congratulated members of the present 3SC team and their technical crew who recently returned the team to elite division of Nigerian football.
While wishing the 3SC team luck in the forthcoming seasons, the ex players urged Governor Makinde to make another giant stride by bringing succour to the players and families who invested their talents and productive years to bring glory to the state in 1998.
