Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) Sporting Director, Tobi Adepoju, has appealed to supporters of the Ibadan-based club to show greater tolerance and patience with the team ahead of its CAF Confederation Cup and Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaigns.
Adepoju made the call at a one-day seminar organised by 3SC FANTV as part of preparations for the club’s forthcoming continental and domestic campaigns.
He urged supporters not to create unnecessary pressure for the players, stressing that the team needs the fans’ encouragement and mental support to perform at its best.
According to Adepoju, the outcome of pre-season matches should not be used as a yardstick to judge the team’s prospects for the new season.
He acknowledged that playing in Ibadan can sometimes place considerable pressure on certain players, particularly when they step onto the turf of the Oluyole Warriors.
However, he appealed to the supporters not to compound the situation by putting additional pressure on the players.
“Supporters should help take the pressure off the players by encouraging them. This will bring out the best in them,” Adepoju said.
The Sporting Director also assured the club’s large following of improved performances in both the CAF Confederation Cup and the NPFL, attributing his optimism to the recruitment of experienced players to strengthen the squad.
He called on the supporters to remain mentally strong and supportive, just as the club’s management is working to prepare the team for the demands of the new season.
Another resource person at the seminar, the Chairman of the Oyo State Football Association, Oba James Odeniran, commended 3SC FANTV for organising what he described as a laudable initiative.
Odeniran noted that the seminar, which brought together supporters from different factions of the Shooting Stars supporters’ groups, was the first of its kind in the history of the club’s supportership.
Also in attendance was the Chairman of the 3SC General Supporters Club, Elder Oyeniyi Oluwafemi, alongside leaders of other supporters’ factions.
The seminar provided a platform for stakeholders and supporters to discuss ways of fostering unity, constructive support and a positive atmosphere around the club as Shooting Stars prepare for a demanding season on both the continental and domestic fronts.
