We’re gradually getting into full gear, 3SC’s Ogunbote says

Gbenga Ogunbote, Head Coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), says his team are gradually getting into the needed shape for success in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Ogunbote, while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Ibadan on their Match Day 8 fixture against Katsina United Football Club, said they were already overcoming anxiety and determination was setting in.

It was reported that Adams Mustapha’s 67th minute goal helped 3SC to a 1-0 win at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Monday.

“Anxiety caused the situation where our players could not to convert all the scoring chances they got into goals.

“But overall, the match was a good game.

“Our opponents came prepared and played for their coach. It was beyond just having a team.

“This is what happens when you have players who want to play for you, and that was what I saw demonstrated by the Kastina United players who gave the game their all.

“But my players were determined that no matter the situation they must win, even though initially we got robbed of some opportunities because there were a lot of anxiety,” the coach said.

He said his team had not won a game for some time and the anxiety to score and take the lead had usually denied them some chances that were easy to utilise to score.

“It was unfortunate that we lost these chances but the most important thing about yesterday (Monday) was the three points we got.

“It was a big relief to the team and it brought joy and will increase the confidence level.

“In all it was a deserved victory,” Ogunbote added.

The coach explained that Samuel Ayanrinde, one of his team’s forwards, was usually being too anxious to score and as a result lost two glaring chances on Monday due to anxiety.

“It is the determination of every player to get a win in this game and they were unable to control their emotions and this rubbed us of many opportunities.

“Even in the second half we had a chance that was created. Unfortunately, we couldn’t convert it into a goal.

“The important thing now is that the synergy is coming gradually and the moment we have that we will be able to have goals being scored by our side,” he said.

On the game’s officiating, Ogunbote said while he does not like to talk about it, he was equally sware of the fact that anything about officiating was beyond the league management body.

“The people in charge are the Referees Unit and Appointments Committee in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

“But I can say that there are lots of improvements over here in the South-West in terms of officiating.

“Here we see games in which those who won deserved to win,” he said.