Shooting Stars Management, Supporters Club Team up to Fight Hooliganism

By Ogundele Olanrewaju

The Management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan and the club’s uniformed Supporters Club, on Wednesday, met to deliberate on ways to curb crowd disturbance during the team’s matches.

Apparently unhappy with the the incident involving the club’s fans and those of Remo Stars FC, after their NPFL matchday eleven fixture in Ikenne, culminating in the disciplinary action taken against both sides by the League Management Company (LMC), the 3SC management had discussion with the Supporters Club on ways to forestall a recurrence.

The LMC, had on Tuesday, ordered the two teams to play their next home matches behind closed doors, with a threat to banish them from their home ground, in case such incident reoccurs.

Speaking at the meeting held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, the Director of Administration and Supply of 3SC, Alhaji Rahman Olapade, explained the need for the leaders of the supporters club to work together with the club’s management in order to ensure that nobody will be able to cause trouble during the team’s matches.

He disclosed that playing Sunday’s matchday twelve encounter against the visiting Dakkada FC behind closed doors, will definitely affect the club and the state negatively.

“Economically, it will affect us in no small means because what we would have made from gateking, would have been much. It will also be a loss to other people such as traders, security personnel, commercial vehicles owners, other businesses and other people who do other essential jobs on matchdays”, said Alhaji Olapade.

While corroborating the points of the Director of Administration and Supply, acting General Manager of the Oluyole Warriors, Dimeji Lawal (MON), said efforts should be geared at sensitizing and enlightening football fans on the dangers of going against the laws of the round leather game.

“Shooting Stars, are a traditional club, a club with rich history, so we must try as much as possible to guard against any occurrence that could tarnish the club’s image, hence the purpose of this meeting.

“Like the Director of Administration said, we will lose in so many ways, playing the next game against Dakkada on Sunday. It would have been a full house, going by the performance of the team against Remo Stars last Sunday”, added the 3SC boss, who also doubles as the club’s Team Manager.

In their separate contributions, leaders of the Supporters Club present at the meeting, suggested different ways to ensure that the home ground of the Oluyole Warriors, maintains the reputation of being peaceful and orderly during matches.

At the end of the meeting, the two parties agreed to go hard on erring fans found causing trouble, warning that any fan found wanting in this regard would be arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution.

Acting General Manager cum Team Manager of 3SC, Dimeji Lawal (MON), Director of Administration and Supply, Rahman Olapade and the Team Coordinator, Adu Akintominiyi, represented 3SC management while Mr Femi Oyeniyi, Chairman General Sports Supporters Club and Mr Femi Ajala, Chairman, 3SC Supporters Club, led other leaders of the club to the meeting.