Match Day 8 Review: “We came with a game plan to win” - 3SC Coach Ogunbote

Posted : 14 November 2023

Kwara United Football Club once again narrowly salvaged a 1-1 draw against Shooting Stars Sports Club in the Match Day 8 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) game held at the Kwara State Stadium Complex in Ilorin on Sunday.

The Afonja Warriors were the early birds to entertain their fans with a great artistry football display dominating possession, as their effort earned them a deserving penalty in the 20 minutes of the game as Shooting Stars defender was adjudged to have handled the ball with his arms inside the box.

Unexpectedly, a former Shooting Stars forward, Samuel Ayorinde, stepped forward to take the penalty against the team standing order in penalty hierarchy as his teammates objected to his decision. As fate would have it, the penalty was eventually blabbed off to hit the woodwork, which gave the visitors the courage to rise in confidence and take it hard against the Harmony Boys.

A run of play by the visitors was disrupted by the Kwara United defender, and the resultant free kick was taken by 3SC midfielder Lawal Abdulahi, who appeared too hostile for Kwara United goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka, as Captain Malomo Taofeek gave the visitors the lead in the 44th minute of play with a tap-in rebound from the right corner.

At halftime, Shooting Stars captain Malomo Taofeek was given a matching order for unsportsmanlike conduct, having taken laws into his own hands with his incessant complaints and had his team down to ten men at the break.

At the resumption, Kenya United wanted to capitalise on their numerical advantage over the Oluyole Warriors as they pushed for an equalizer, but Shooting Stars was able to contain their offensive threats and was more ambitious to pick the first away victory on the road.

At stoppage time, Kwara United were on an open play with Bernard Ovoke running on the flank and making a fantastic cross to Mohamed Alao, who made no mistake to head an equalising goal for the Harmony Boys.

The 7-minute added time made no difference as the two Warriors settled for the draw at regulation time. Kwara United handler Kabiru Dogo expressed sadness over the disappointing result, as he claimed that Ayorinde was not his first penalty taker in the team.

"Though anybody can lose a penalty, Samuel Ayorinde is not my first penalty taker. This is a disappointing result for me, but that's football."

Shooting Stars Technical Adviser, Gbenga Ogunbote, stated that he came with a game plan to win as he faulted the red card that disrupted his game plan. “The red card affected us as every match I play, I set out my team to go for victory. "Be it Ilorin or anywhere, my target is to win. The red card affected us.” The oracle reacted

Kwara United will next travel to Benin City, Edo State, for their matchday clash against Bendel Insurance while Shooting Stars play hosts to Kano Pillars in Match Day 9 of the Nigeria Premier Football League next weekend at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

Match Day 8 Review: “We came with a game plan to win” - 3SC Coach Ogunbote

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