Gbenga Ogunbote, the Head Coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), says they drew goalless with visiting Enyimba International on Sunday because they were too eager to win the game.
Ogunbote, while speaking with newsmen after the match, said if they had been a little bit more calm in front of goal the result could have been different.
Both sides ended it goalless at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Sunday.
This was in a Match Day 6 fixture of the ongoing 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Both sides gave a good account of themselves on the pitch in the attempt to outshine one another.
“I think it was a good game. The substitutes we brought in in the early minutes of the second half were to add value to the team and they did.
“From that moment, we had control of the game.
“But sometimes you play so well and the result you expect doesn’t come your way.
“However, the most important thing is that the team has done well,” he said.
Ogunbote added that Enyimba played with a team full of players they retained from last season.
“We played with just four, and that brings about a difference.
“I have pleaded for understanding and patience for the synergy to come into our team.
“Synergy doesn’t come overnight and it’s unfortunate and not my making that we lost some of the players we had decided to keep.
“But sometimes it’s like that.
“What we played today (Sunday) is better than in previous matches.
“As the league goes on, the understanding will be there.
“When this is there we will begin to get the right results. The league is like a marathon,” he added.
Ogunbote noted that the good thing for them was that the synergy was coming gradually, even though they had not got there yet.
“The challenges we have are those of goal scoring, especially in the ability to take risks.
“If we had taken enough risks in this game against Enyimba, maybe we would have gotten something,” he said.
On their next fixture in Port Harcourt against Rivers United, Ogunbote said the Ibadan-based 3SC would not be fretting.
“We are Shooting Stars, and we are not afraid to play games anywhere.
“The only thing is for us to get fair officiating. If we get the kind of officiating we got against Enyimba here in Ibadan, certainly we will not have any problem.
“The officiating in our first two games away (in Lafia and Benin) could have been better.
“So, we just pray for fair officiating and a level-playing ground, and we will be able to showcase whatever we have,” he stated.
Speaking also, Yemi Olarenwaju, the Chief Coach of the Aba-based Enyimba, said he knew prior to the game that it would be a tough game and had warned his players.
“I had to work on the mindset of my players because last season when we came here we won, and I didn’t think they (3SC) would want that to happen again.
“I knew the crowd would also be on ground and the atmosphere would be buzzing, and that was exactly what happened .
“We practised for this. We knew they were going to result to a lot of long balls and we have to pick the second balls and catch them on the counter.
“But unfortunately we couldn’t get a goal.
“We created more scoring opportunities from the corner-kicks and free-kicks,” he said.
The coach acknowledged that Shooting Stars had a good game.
“It was a fantastic performance from them against us today.
“I know that every home team wants to win their matches, but they really did well because they gave us a tough time,” he said.
Olanrewaju added that he had a special game plan for all their away matches.
“We try to be compact and deny them opportunities to create a lot of chances.”
Speaking on the home crowd, the coach noted that the support was there in good measure for the hosts.
“It was great today and I think they (the spectators) weren’t hostile, because the last time there were a lot of abuses and other things.
“Today, I think they love good football and they were behind their team.
“So, in spite of the goalless draw, there was no harassment,” he said.
