THESE STARS MUST SHOOT TODAY AND AGAIN – OLOYE ALABI

Although,”THESE STARS ARE SHOOTING AGAIN”,was the headline of my congratulatory article,published in The Comet (now transformed to The Nation) newspaper issue of Sunday,7th September,2003 (15 years ago last year September),when 3SC,after her demotion, returned to the Nigerian Professional Football League(NPFL), I am today adjusting that headline in this piece to pull the ears of the Management and players of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC)of Ibadan,Oyo State of Nigeria,as the football club faces Remo Stars FC of Ogun State of Nigeria this evening (6.00pm)at the Enyimba International Stadium,Aba.

The 3SC is participating,with seven other Nigerian football clubs,in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 Tournament,with a view of regaining promotion to the National Premier Football League(NPFL),which the 3SC FC had dominated in the past.

For the record,3SC, orherwise known as the Shooting Stars FC,or in the 1950s to the 1960s as the Western Nigeria Development Corporation Football Club of Ibadan(WNDC FC)and later in the the 1970s as the Investment and Industrial Credit Corporation Football Club (IICC FC)holds the record of Nigeria’s first football club to win two intercontinental soccer cups (the Cup Winners Cup) in 1976 and the Confederation of African Football (CAF Cup) in 1992.The 3SC FC was a darling of Nigerian,nay African,soccer fans,until it dropped in status to play in the amateur league.Poor them.

In its reaction to the somewhat laize–faire attitude of the Management and players of the 3SC to the 1984 African Cup of Champions competition,which it was poised to win,the club owner,the old Oyo State Military Government,then headed by Lieutenant -Colonel (now a retired Major-General)Oladayo Popoola,ordered the dismissal and dissolution of the Management and players of the Shooting Stars FC,on Sunday,9th December,1984,following the dismal performance of the club the day before(Saturday,8th December,1984) in the return leg of her match against the Zamalek FC of Egypt,at the National Stadium,Surulere,Lagos State. I signed the OYSG press statement of the 3SC dissolution,on the orders of the Military Governor (Col. Popoola)in my capacity as his Press Secretary.
Since then,I have always kept track of 3SC topsy-turvy soccer performances. You may please read my past articles on the team:

(1)”WIN THIS FOR ‘LEKAN”,published in The Guardian newspaper issue of Saturday,28th November,1992
(2)”THESE STARS MUST SHOOT AGAIN”,published in The Comet newspaper issue of Sunday,7th September,2003 and
(3)”THESE STARS NEED TO SHOOT AGAIN”,published in my column,”‘Lekan Alabi Column“on page 22 of the popular ‘City People’ magazine issue of Monday,11th September,2013.
As I said earlier here,the once apple of Nigerian and African football soccer fans eyes,3SC,will this evening,in Aba, attempt a climb-back into the prestigious Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL). The team deserves our prayers and support in their venture.
But,as they say,”Heaven helps those who help themselves”.Promotions come the way of well-prepared teams,God willing.
May the spirits of the late Chief ‘Lekan Salami,the godfather of 3SC,and those of deceased others, push 3SC back into reckoning.Amen.
PHOTOGRAPH CAPTION
I present a personal gift to the late soccer superstar of the Shooting Stars FC and Nigeria’s Super Eagles FC,Mudah Lawal (real surname Agboluaje),during the farewell football match played at the former Liberty (now Obafemi Awolowo)Stadium,Oke Ado,Ibadan,Oyo State of Nigeria on Sunday,17th February,1991,to mark his retirement from football.
He was Nigeria’s first soccer Ambassador and held the record of being the veteran of 5 African Cup of Nations soccer championships.May his gallant soul continue to rest in peace.Amen.
*How I wish his widow,Yetunde,my dear aburo,kindly gets in touch with me