From Glory to Grit: The Trials and Triumphs of Shooting Stars Sports Club

Penultimate week, emotions ran high in Ibadan as Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) made headlines—first for triumph, then for turmoil. Supporters like myself were excited when the Oluyole Warriors advanced into the round of 32 in the ongoing President Federation Cup—albeit without kicking a ball. A walkover win against Zamfara United had fans dancing and chanting “3SC! ooose! ooose! baba!

In a sudden twist, news broke from the Nigeria Football Federation’s Sunday Dankaro House that the former champions of the prestigious tournament had been disqualified. The reason? The use of five unregistered players during the match.

According to reports, a 3SC official had earlier approached a Federation Cup desk officer, requesting that seven new players be registered for the competition. When the request was denied, the club reportedly took matters into their own hands, fielding the players anyway in what some may call “the assumed normal way.” The move initially went unnoticed—until match reports confirmed the unauthorized players had indeed been used in the walkover game. Clubs who had been denied similar requests protested, and in less than two hours, 3SC was thrown out of the tournament.

As the heartbreak from that disqualification lingered, yet another blow landed—this time from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) authorities.

After a tense Matchday 32 fixture against Ikorodu City FC of Lagos, 3SC’s fans, displeased with officiating, took matters into their own hands in ways that could damage the game’s integrity. The resulting fallout led the NPFL Disciplinary Committee to slam the club with a whopping N5 million fine.

The charges?
    •    N1 million for inadequate security that allowed unauthorized access and harassment of officials.
    •    N1 million for failure to control fans, leading to assaults on visiting Ikorodu City supporters.
    •    N1 million for objects thrown at referees and onto the pitch, in violation of Rule B13.18.
    •    N2 million as compensation to Ikorodu City for damages to their team bus during the unrest.

To make matters worse, the Lekan Salami Stadium was closed to fans for the remainder of the season—a crushing blow to long-time supporters who have stood by the club through thick and thin.

As someone who has followed this club passionately for over three decades, I must say: this is the lowest point in recent memory.

But perhaps, in all this chaos, it is time to pause, reflect, and draw lessons from the club’s rich history and legacy—a history that should never be forgotten.

Shooting Stars Sports Club—known originally as Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC) FC—is not just another football club. It is a symbol of Nigerian sporting excellence.

Founded in the 1950s, the club later evolved into the IICC Shooting Stars, and finally, the 3SC we know today. The name “Shooting Stars” was meant to represent players who were destined to shine brightly—on and off the pitch.

3SC holds the honor of being one of the founding members of the Nigerian Premier League in 1972. Home games are played at the historic Lekan Salami Stadium, a fortress where countless legendary moments were.
If there was a time when 3SC truly soared, it was during the late ’70s and ’80s. In 1976, they wrote themselves into the annals of African football history by winning the African Cup Winners’ Cup, making them the first Nigerian club to claim a continental title.

At home, 3SC was a feared force:
    •    Nigerian Premier League champions in 1976, 1980, 1983, 1995, and 1998.
    •    Nigerian Federation Cup winners in 1971, 1977, 1979, and 1995.

These weren’t just titles—they were testaments to the club’s dominance and consistency over decades.

3SC is not just known for its silverware but also for the icons it produced. The great Segun “Mathematical” Odegbami, whose brilliance on the ball thrilled millions, made his name at the club. The legendary Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s highest goal scorer of all time, also wore the Oluyole jersey.

Others who left indelible marks include:
    •    Felix Owolabi – an energetic winger with a cannon of a left foot.
    •    Muda Lawal – a midfield maestro who featured in five consecutive African Cup of Nations tournaments.
    •    Taiwo Ogunjobi – an iconic defender and later administrator.

These men weren’t just footballers—they were ambassadors of Nigerian pride.

No team excels without great leadership, and 3SC was blessed with brilliant tacticians. Coaches like Festus Onigbinde and Jossy Ladipo were instrumental in building systems that optimized local talent and introduced Nigerian football to modern tactics

For all their glory, 3SC has not been without its share of troubles. Relegations in 2006 and 2017 were low points for the club. Internal issues—ranging from administrative inefficiencies, financial struggles, and player exodus—plagued their progress.

Yet, true to their name, Shooting Stars rose again, returning to the Nigerian top flight in 2009 and again in 2021. These promotions were a testament to the club’s grit and the undying support of its fans.

In the 2023–24 NPFL season, under the stewardship of Chairman Hon. Babatunde Olaniyan and Coach Gbenga Ogunbote, 3SC placed 4th—an impressive result that hinted at a club on the mend.

Youth development and infrastructure are now top priorities. There’s a fresh drive to discover homegrown talent and build a sustainable future for the Oluyole Warriors.

But while the club makes strides off the pitch, the fans must also rise in maturity and discipline. Disrupting matches, attacking officials, and damaging properties do not reflect the spirit of 3SC’s proud heritage. Football is governed by rules, and these rules must be respected.

These recent challenges—disqualification from the Federation Cup, the N5 million fine, and the stadium ban—are reminders that reputation is earned over decades but can be lost in moments.

We, the fans, must protect what our heroes built. From Odegbami to Yekini, from Ladipo to Onigbinde, this club was carved in discipline, talent, and unity.

Let us remember:
    •    3SC is not just a club—it’s a culture.
    •    The badge on the shirt represents generations of hard work.
    •    The stadium is not a battlefield—it’s a theatre of dreams.

Shooting Stars Sports Club has lived through decades of triumph, turbulence, and tenacity. From the highs of continental glory to the lows of disciplinary bans, 3SC remains a pillar in Nigerian football.

As the team continues its quest to return to the summit, both management and supporters must learn from past mistakes. Because only when the club is united—on and off the field—can the chants of “3SC! Pele! Pele..ooo” once again ring true with pride.