Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Sunshine Stars

  • Lobi Stars, Sunshine Stars Play Draw Goalless in Makurdi

    Lobi Stars, Sunshine Stars Play Draw Goalless in Makurdi

    By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi

    Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi and Sunshine Stars of Akure yesterday at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi played draw goalless in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL.

    Day Break checks gathered that there was a mild drama as visiting Sunshine’s players protested a penalty kick awarded against them by the central referee few minutes into the second half. It took several minutes before the situation was brought under control.

    Lobi Stars players could not flore their visitors despite home support they enjoyed through out the match, which ended draw goalless as the team missed many scoring chances.

    Since the Chief Coach of Lobi Stars Baba Ganaru replaced the team’s former Coach, Eddy Dombraye, efforts are being stepped up to get Lobi Stars out of relegation zone, but his effort is not yielding positive results hence the club has lots many matches.

    The new Head Coach however assured fans of the club that more efforts would be intensified to ensure that Lobi Stars does not go to relegation zone.

    ” We missed so many scoring chances but I think that is how God want it. We will keep fighting, anything can happen. We still have nine matches ahead to play”, he assured.

  • NPFL Day 35: Nasarawa United thrash Sunshine Stars 4-0

    NPFL Day 35: Nasarawa United thrash Sunshine Stars 4-0

    By Leo Nzwanke, Lafia

    Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia, playing at home on Sunday, kept hopes of playing continental football next season alive with a 4-0 crushing of visiting Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure.

    The 2020/2021 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 35 saw all the four goals coming in the first half, with NPFL top scorer, Silas Nwankwo getting a brace to increase his tally to 18 goals so far.

    Daybreak news reports that both teams were scheduled to meet twice within the week with Nasarawa United already winning the first encounter, before they will be opportune to rekindle their rivalry again on July 30th, in one of the 2021 Aiteo Cup semi finals in Asaba, Delta State.

    The first half showcased the intention and determination of Nasarawa United in their quest for a continental slot as they completely dominated the encounter throughout the 45 minutes of play.

    Nwankwo put the home team in the lead with a fine shot into the left corner of the net in the 11th minute and in the 18th minute secured his brace after the Sunshine goalkeeper, in a comical fashion, mistakenly spilled the ball towards him, while trying to kick the ball to a team mate.

    In the 23rd minute, Nwankwo turned provider when he fired in a cross from the left side of the Sunshine Stars defence area into their penalty area for Aliyu Abdullahi to stab in from close range.

    Chigozie Obasi got the best applause from home fans after his thunderous freekick outside the 18 yard box in the 39th minute beat Sunshine Stars’ goalkeeper, Henry Ayodele, to make it 4-0 till the end of the first half.

    Despite the continuous dominance of the home side in the second half, however, they could not add to the goal tally till the final whistle.

    Speaking in a post match interview, Bala Nikyu, Head Coach of Nasarawa United, lamented his team’s missed chances in the second half, after their brilliant performance in the first half that gave them the 4-0 margin.

    He, however, praised them for their impressive performance, pledging to ensure they kept on the momentum till the end of the season.

    “Four goals is a good one for us. We appreciate the way they came. If not for the late chances we lost, it would have been up to Six goals,” he said.

    On the other hand, Head Coach of Sunshine Stars, Deji Ayeni, blamed fatigue for the poor performance of his boys and promised that they will bounce back and give a better performance in the Aiteo Cup semi finals on July 30th.

    “I saw a lot of fatigue in my boys. The programme of the Nigerian Football Federation is really affecting so many teams in the country.

    “It will get to a stage that when you push the players psychologically and mentally, they are going to be down and you cannot get the best from them. But congratulations to Nasarawa United.

    “I see that they are playing at home in front of their fans. That alone is a motivational factor for them to reap a better part of the game. By and large, I give it to them,” Ayeni said.

    “We will go back home to re-strategize for the semi final of the Aiteo Cup and I assure you that it’s going to be a different ball game. We are looking forward to absolute victory in that encounter,” he said.

  • Players, officials of Sunshine Stars protest Over Unpaid Salaries

    Players, officials of Sunshine Stars protest Over Unpaid Salaries

    Players and officials of Sunshine Stars Football Club have taken to the streets of Akure, the Ondo State capital to protest the poor handling of the team by the state government.

    The protest grounded commercial activities in the state capital as the players and officials marched from the stadium to the governor’s office to register their grievances.

    According to the players and officials, they are being owed about six month’s salary and match bonuses.

    Led by the Team Captain, Mr Abe Sunday the players also took their protest to the entrance of the Governor’s office in Akure.

    They appealed to the government to resolve the issue as it has affected their performance in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who added addressed them assured that their grievances will be addressed.

    Players and officials of Sunshine Stars Football Club protest on the streets of Akure, Ondo State capital on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.
  • NPFL: Sunshine Stars beat Abia Warriors 1-0

    NPFL: Sunshine Stars beat Abia Warriors 1-0

    Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure on Sunday defeated visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 in a Match Day 23 fixture of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    The match played at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure saw Sunshine Stars’ forward Fuad Ekelojuoti scoring the lone goal in the 50th minute of the encounter.

    Sunshine Stars had wasted several scoring chances in the match’s first half.

    Sunshine Stars’ Technical Adviser, Kabir Dogo, later said he was happy that his team had got back to winning ways.

    Dogo, who hailed the improvement in the visiting team since their meeting in the league’s first stanza, said his team’s dream of playing on the continent next season was still on.

    “This is what we have been struggling to get since all these days. Thank God we achieved it today with hard work from the players, fans and everybody.

    “I dedicate the victory to all the good people of the state. There is a lot of improvement from Abia Warriors compared to what I saw in the first stanza of the season.

    “Any team battling relegation is always difficult to play. Our continental target is still on course. With the contribution of everybody we can still achieve it if all the necessities are put in place,’’ he said.

    On his part, the Acting Technical Manager of Abia Warriors, Wilfred Udube said it was a good match for both sides.

    Udube said he was satisfied with the match’s first half and was not happy with the second half performance of his team.

    “It was a good match but we lost. The first half was okay but the second half was nothing to write home about,” he said.(NAN)

  • Sunshine Stars condole with Plateau United over Pele’s demise

    Sunshine Stars condole with Plateau United over Pele’s demise

    The management of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure has condoled with the management of Plateau United on the demise of their Chief Coach, Audu Pele.
    Pele died in his home in Kazaure on Wednesday, during a brief illness and has been buried according to Islamic injunction.
    The team’s condolence message was contained in a statement issued by their Media Officer, Chris Okunnuwa, on Thursday in Akure.
    Okunnuwa said that the Chairman of Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), Tajudeen Akinyemi, expressed shock over the demise of the coach.
    “This is so unfortunate; so sad to hear this. Losing a hardworking coach this way will always be difficult to bear; but, this is what we humans don’t have control over; we must always accept the superiority of God.
    “I know his contributions to the club will forever be appreciated, and that is something his family can always take solace in.
    “We share the sense of grief of this great loss,” he said. (NAN)

  • NPFL: We are targeting 65 points this season, says Dogo

    NPFL: We are targeting 65 points this season, says Dogo

    Technical Adviser of Sunshine Stars, Kabir Dogo, says his team is targeting at least 65 points by the end of the ongoing 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Dogo said this in his post-match interview, after his team defeated visiting Ifeanyi Ubah FC 2-0 in the match day 19 clash at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure on Sunday.

    The gaffer said his team is playing better this season and ready to face any team in the league.

    “Before the beginning of the season in Ibadan, we had a meeting with the players during which we targeted 65 points.

    “Out of the 65 points now, we have achieved 30, we believe if we can secure 65 points, we can achieve continental ticket,” he said.

    Sunshine Stars midfielders, Jose Fatokun and Anthony Omaka got the maximum points for the home team.

    Fatokun opening goal was from Wasiu Jimoh’s corner kick in the 24th minute while Omaka emulated his midfield partner by scoring from a corner, also taken by Jimoh in the 30th minute to make it 2-0.

    Dogo congratulated his players and the entire people of Ondo State for what the team had achieved in the first stanza of the league.

    Coach of Ifeanyi Ubah, Uche Okagwe said his players lost the game due to lack of concentration and inexperience.

    “We conceded those two goals due to lack of concentration, it’s lack of experience and lack of concentration from the boys; if you notice, they are all new players from non- league sides,” he said.

    Okagwe however said he will plan Sunshine Stars’ downfall in the second stanza.

    “We are going to pay them back in their own coins,” he assured.

    Sunshine Stars is going into the mid season break with 30 points from 19 matches.(NAN)

  • NPFL: Sunshine Stars beat hosts Wikki Tourists 2-1 in Bauchi

    NPFL: Sunshine Stars beat hosts Wikki Tourists 2-1 in Bauchi

    Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure on Sunday defeated hosts Wikki Tourists FC 2-1 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.

    The Akure boys recorded their first goal 26 minutes into the first half of the tension-soaked Match Day 14 fixture through Amaka Anthony.

    They scored their second goal 63 minutes into the game after failing to utilise many scoring chances during the match through Faux Ekelojuoti.

    The home team were playing their first match at their real home after having played earlier home matches in over two and a half years in Jos, Lafia and Gombe.

    They scored their lone goal through a penalty kick taken by Mohammed Garba.

    In a post-match interview, the Technical Adviser of Sunshine Stars, Kabiru Dogo, commended his boys’ efforts in winning the match.

    “In the past three or four years, I have been leading teams to beat them (Wikki Tourists), and today again I have made it again, so thanks to God Almighty.

    “But it is a testy match for both sides. Wikki have been doing very well, but today the better team won the game,” Dogo states.

    He described the officiating of the match as excellent, saying “for now we cannot say anything because we have achieved success”.

    The Technical Adviser and other technical crew members of Wikki Tourists were not available for comments immediately after the match.

    Their being unavailable may not be unconnected with the fears of being manhandled by the club’s fans who were angry over the team’s poor performance.

    However, the club’s spokesman, Nasiru Kobi, described the performance of the team as “terrible and very disturbing.

    “We played three home matches away in Gombe and lost them and now anticipated doing better while at our real home in Bauchi.

    “But it is rather unfortunate that we lost it too, in spite of the teeming supporters.

    “The supporters have been expecting the team to return here for their home matches, but this performance and result are disappointing to the team, the management, the government and the teeming supporters,” Kobi said.

    He however appealed to the club’s fans, supporters and other stakeholders to exercise patience, assuring that the team would improve in subsequent matches.(NAN)