Lawyer to late Nigeria prolific goal scorer Rasidi Yekini, Barrister Jubril Mohammed has submitted that the Shooting Stars will play in next year CAF Champions League .
Barrister Mohammed who spoke in Ibadan opined that with the way Shooting Stars is going, he foresees the team winning the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) or at least coming second and winning the continental ticket in the mould of the prestigious Confederation African Football (CAF) Champions league.
“ Bearing any form of injury or unforeseen circumstances, I see Shooting Stars winning the League or at worst coming second and getting a continental ticket” he stated.
“I know that Enyimba football club of Aba has almost wasted our chances of having three teams in the champions league, inspite of that , I see Shooting Stars winning the league or coming second and getting a continental ticket at worst” Barrister Mohammed explained.
He observed that he does not think that the 1976 African Cup winners Champions will have not have any problem relating to finance as this would be taken care of.
“ With the pressures being exerted by the management of the team on the government, I think they will circumvent the issue “ he posited “ I also see well meaning individuals rallying round the team in terms of providing funding which will be needed at the business end of the league “
He observed that success always has many children adding that this will be the case when the Oluyole Warriors are poised to win the league and require funds to prosecute the rest of their campaign in the on going NPFL a league .
“ The reason we have not seen people coming out to support Shooting Stars over the past few years is because they have been battling relegation “ Barrister Mohammed who also organized awards for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) highest goal scorer awards which was won by Gbolahan Salami and Anthony Opotu and in the past said.
“ Now, that they are in prime position to win, am sure well meaning individuals will come to their aid in terms of financial support and that will enhance their performance one way or the other” he added.
The Barrister said further that though the league is very tough and difficult, the 1996 double champions will triumph at the end of the day not minding that referees might decided to be funny in terms of officiating.
“The second stanza is always very tough and unpredictable because that is when you begin to witness some funny refereeing , nevertheless Shooting Stars will not end up empty handed.
With regards to the problematic area in the team, he revealed that the 1998 NPFL league champions will have to recruit some players especially ball carriers and strikers to fill the void created by the absence of Ayobami otherwise known as Agba who had gone to seek greener pastures and Christian Pyagbara who was a prolific goal scorer for the Oluyole Warriors in the midfield and the attack respectively .
“ We have to get a seasoned goal scorer and ball carriers in the attack and the midfield so that the job of scoring goals and controlling the midfield will not be an issue or a difficult thing which it seemed in the first stanza at some point “ he pointed out.
“I know the management and the coaching crew are already working In this regard “ noting that “ this will not be an issue by the time the second stanza begins when teams will want to consolidate on their positions or ensure that they escape relegation” Barrister stated further.
