Shooting Stars, otherwise known as 3SC, once a dominant force in Nigerian football, with success and their fierce style earning them the nickname Oluyole Warriors, had become a shadow of their glorious past.
For more than two decades, the Ibadan-based club struggled to find direction, battling both on the pitch and behind the scenes. Their identity had faded, and a sense of disillusionment crept into the stands.
Long gone was the club that earned the nickname ‘Warriors’, one that was consistent both in the league and on the continent, winning 12 silverwares, including five league titles and two CAF Cups, while also reaching the CAF Champions League final twice before the turn of the century.
The turn of the century coincided with their turn in fortunes. The five-time Nigerian champions have been relegated twice since their first drop in 2006, spending a total of seven years in the lower division, returning in 2009 after the first, and going back again in 2017, gaining promotion back in 2021.
But it appears the club is about to hit the awaiting light at the end of the tunnel due to recent activities. The tides have begun to turn in favour of the Oluyole Warriors.
Ibadan Reacts to End Shooting Stars’ Embarrassment
The previous NPFL season mirrored the recent history of 3SC, full of promise that eventually crumbled under mismanagement and inconsistency.
Under Gbenga Ogunbote, a veteran coach in domestic Nigerian football, the club began brightly and at one point trailed eventual champions Remo Stars by only a few points.
However, the collapse that followed was astonishing. Out of their final 16 matches, 3SC could only muster three wins, plummeting to an eighth-place finish, a staggering 17 points behind their Southwest rivals.
Remo Stars, just like that, won their first-ever NPFL title, doing so before Shooting could even come close to adding to their five from the past century and crowning their claims as the best in the Southwest with evidence.
Shooting’s fall was disheartening, but more importantly, it exposed a deeper rot. The fans, ever loyal, were vocal about their frustrations, not just with the performances but with the lack of clear direction. The board listened.
A new chairman was appointed to kick-start the rebuild. Honourable Taiwo Lekan Salami assumes the reigns, and has started the movement to put an end to the days of nightmare.
After much speculation over his future, Ogunbote was ultimately relieved of his duties, bringing an end to his three-year stint at the club after his appointment in 2022, following an impressive first season back in the top flight with Remo Stars.
A New Technical Brain: Enter Nurudeen Aweroro
Gbenga Ogunbote’s departure marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new philosophy. In came Nurudeen Aweroro, a coach whose name had started echoing in Nigerian football circles for his miraculous work with Ikorodu City FC.
Tasked with rescuing the Lagos club after a dreadful start to their first-ever top-flight season, Aweroro guided them to an astonishing fourth-place finish.
From Matchday Six onward, when he took charge of his first game after replacing Bright Ozebagbe, only Remo Stars (59 points) earned more points than Ikorodu City (58), a testament to Aweroro’s tactical brilliance.
His man-management and ability to restructure an underperforming side and get the best out of relatively unknown talents in such a limited time make him the perfect fit for Shooting Stars, a club searching for identity.
His appointment is more than a managerial change; it signals a transformation in ethos. Yet, not to get overly carried away, the club continues to keep its head focused because the move is familiar; it’s a similar narrative to how Ogunbote joined from Remo Stars.
For the good of their investment and the feelings of fans anticipating a change in fortune, the hierarchy is well prepared and has learnt its lessons. A new Sporting Director is also in town, and yes, it is a complete makeover.
Sporting Director With a Personal Mission
To match the technical shift, the club made a heartfelt appointment, naming one of their own, Tobi Adepoju Samuel, as the new Sporting Director.
A man born and raised in Ibadan, Tobi is more than a seasoned NPFL analyst and sports journalist; he’s a son of the soil returning home.
He had worked behind the scenes with the league board and famously served as Sporting Director at Ikorodu City, alongside new manager Aweroro, where he played a vital role in their promotion and successful debut season.
Adepoju is bringing with him a strategic blueprint grounded in data, identity, and long-term development. His move back to Ibadan is driven by emotion and vision, a desire to see his boyhood club return to greatness.
“This is a dream job, an amazing opportunity to serve in my state. I grew up supporting Shooting Stars as a 10-year-old boy so this is a great privilege to be part of this project,” Adepoju said in a promotional video for his unveiling, shared on the club’s official X account.
“I spoke with a lot of people… they said go ahead and take this job. We all know this is one of the biggest jobs in the country historically,” he continued.
Adepoju also called on fans to stand behind the team as they embrace the journey to make Shooting Stars great again, stressing that things may not be easy in the first year, so fans should show understanding and give the project time to bloom.
“It is our first year and it’s not going to be easy, but we need the people (fans) to be patient with us. It’s a new phase, a new journey. We are trying to do a lot of restructuring, and one year is not enough to make a judgment. With patience, the trophies will come.
We need fans to understand that we need time to build this project. We need them to understand the vision, come here (to the games), support us, be passionate about this club, and allow us to restructure and stabilize.
When we stabilize, the trophies will come. The continental ticket will come. But we need them to be patient. We need them to love this club.”
Media Makeover
The shift hasn’t been only on the touchlines. For a club of 3SC’s stature, their media output had long been a source of ridicule. Poor branding and lack of visibility had cut the club off from a generation raised on social media and digital storytelling.
The likes of Remo Stars, Ikorodu City, and Sporting Lagos, clubs founded in their faces, had left them behind. But now, that too has changed.
Now led by Ibrahim Akindele, known in the Nigerian football scene as Kindee, the club’s content is transitioning into something relatable to fans who have seen the light, and demanded improvement.
From sharp storytelling in unveiling videos to quality graphics, 3SC’s media work now reflects the ambitions of a club with heritage and hunger to restore lost glory.
Their content rollout during the announcement of Aweroro and Adepoju was nothing short of elite, and fans and neutrals alike did not fail to take notice.
It is not just about looking good; it’s about building a club that resonates with fans of all generations. In his interview, Adepoju stated that Shooting Stars is arguably the only club in the country with fan progression, and matching the appetite of both the elderly and the young is a responsibility.
Looking Ahead
A Team Under Construction
Transfer talks have begun swirling around the club as several top players are being linked with a move to Ibadan. These aren’t just knee-jerk signings but targeted pursuits to complement the vision and playing style of the new regime.
On the flip side, underperformers from previous seasons are being moved on, signaling a no-nonsense approach to accountability.
Chairman Hon. Taiwo Lekan Salami has stood at the forefront of this revolution. His belief in restoring the club’s pride is not just in words but in action, from personnel to philosophy. The state Governor, Seyi Makinde, too is a supporter of the process.
The club chairman has also recently talked about their progress with meeting brands for endorsement and sponsorship, to ensure the rebuild will not only be progressive for a while, but sustainable in the long run.
Ibadan, A City Awakens By A Cause
The mood around Ibadan is changing. You can feel it at the Lekan Salami Stadium, on the streets of Mokola, and even on social media where fans from Oyo to Ohio are expressing hope.
This is not just a rebuild — it is a reawakening. The stakeholders have heard the cry to make Shooting Stars great again, and their impressive response has awakened the spirits of every lover. To the point that even Adepoju, who was once maltreated by the fans, put it all behind, and returned.
Shooting Stars is not just a football club. It embodies the City of Ibadan, extending to the symbol of the Yoruba tribe itself. It has produced stars that have gone on to become national heroes. Rashidi Yekini, Segun Odegbami, and more. There is a responsibility to keep it afloat.
Since their return to the NPFL in 2021, 3SC have wandered in search of identity. But with a structured boardroom, a focused technical bench, and a clear media presence, the signs are pointing upward.
The Oluyole Warriors are done surviving, and next on the agenda is preparation to compete. While success may not come from the onset, it is clear what the intention of the club is, and with time, things will surely fall into place.
As they prepare to march into the new season, fans are beginning to believe again and couldn’t be more eager to echo ‘Up Stars’ whenever they hear the call, ‘Up Shooting’.
2 Comments
Up shooting
Up Stars✨
My level of excitement can be compared to City fans’ when Abu dhabi came. I’m ecstatic thinking about the future already. I see continental football this coming season.