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Gbenga Ogunbote, the Head Coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), on Sunday in Ibadan said the team was still working on integrating its newly-signed players with the older ones.
Ogunbote stated this during the post-match news conference which followed the team’s 1-1 draw with visiting Plateau United in their 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 2 fixture.
The match was played at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan.
“Our team did not start from where it ended it at home in the past season because most of our players in the immediate-past season have left.
“We paraded a relatively-new team today (Sunday), with most of the players performing at home for the first time in the presence of their supporters.
“So, our performance in today’s (Sunday’s) game is an unfortunate one. We had a lot of difficulties in terms of synergy among players, and other factors,” the coach said.
“Synergy in the team does not come overnight,” he added.
Ogunbote then appealed to the team’s supporters for understanding.
“Most of the players who featured for our opponents today (Sunday) are those they retained.
“But we are sure that in no distance time the synergy and understanding among the players would improve, and the team would get itself together after a couple of games,” he said.
Speaking also, Mbwas Mangut, the head coach of Plateau United, said his team approached the game with the knowledge that 3SC ended strongly in the just-concluded season and pre-season games.
“We know how strong and dangerous 3SC could be, and that is why we tried to avoid all those areas where they are strong in the front.
”We also used the second ball to hold the game in the middle and to maintain our performance in the game,” he said.
The coach disclosed that Plateau United were able to replace the players who left after last season with stronger ones.
”We are therefore optimistic that, in the next three to four more games, the best of the team will come out,” he said.
NAN reports that Plateau United took the lead during the game, through Victor Dawa’s 39th minute goal.
The hosts drew level through Uche Onwuansanya in the second minute of first half’s three added minutes.
Shooting Stars are now with two points from two games, having drawn their Match Day 1 fixture 1-1 with hosts Nasarawa United in Lafia on Sept. 8.