Gbenga Ogunbote, the head coach of Shooting Stars, expressed his concerns about the one-month break in the NPFL, noting that it could disrupt the momentum of teams, including his own, who have been consistent recently. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the break but remained optimistic about managing the situation effectively.
Ogunbote emphasized the importance of maintaining the team’s form and fitness during the break to ensure they are ready for the resumption of the league. Despite the setback caused by the break, he remained determined to keep the players in good condition and prepare them adequately for upcoming matches.
“I think it has to do with everything, except those teams that have outstanding results with the Rivers United. But you need to know that the form which we have now, honestly, I wish there was no break until the end of the season. I wish there was no break. But be it as it may, we’ll try as much as we can to manage the situation.”
Using a metaphor of attending school without examinations, Ogunbote highlighted the need for the team to stay focused and maintain their competitive edge during the break, despite the absence of official matches. He stressed the importance of keeping the players in a match-ready state to mitigate the effects of the break on their performance when the league resumes.
“It’s like when you attend a school without examinations, you’re dealing with the minimum. And we’ll try our best to see that we put ourselves in a match form.”
Shooting Stars got the better of Kennedy Boboye’s Sunshine Stars 2-0 in Ibadan courtesy of goals from captain Malomo Taofeek and in-form striker, Christian Pyagbara and would resume hostilities in the league against Abia Warriors when they return after a month of the forced break due to the NPFL giving Rivers United a window to play all their outstanding matches that were missed due to continental engagements.
