The Management of Ondo State Football Agency has assured fans of Sunshine Stars of Akure that the squad will be kept for the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season to be able to gel together ahead of upcoming competitions.
According to the General Manager of the agency, Prince Tunde Ogunja, rival clubs will not be allowed to infiltrate the team after the completion of the 2022/2023 NPFL season won by Enyimba of Aba.
Sunshine Stars of Akure came fourth hence missed out on next season’s CAF Champion League and the CAF Confederation Cup.
Prince Tunde Ogunja appreciated the Interim Management Committee (IMC) led by Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye for a successful season and a well organized competition.
“Particularly I want to appreciate Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye for his leadership role in the IMC. He did great and never disappointed. Talking generally about the Super 6, I think Sunshine Stars prepared to earn a continental ticket but we came 4th and missed out by whiskers.”
Ogunja bemoaned the poor officiating of the Super Six nothing that there is room for improvement.
“The level of officiating in the competition was very poor, I can remember the penalty awarded Rivers United in the first game, it was a fraud. We also had a clear penalty against Remo Stars that was ignored by the referee. Well, that is gone. In the match against Enyimba, we had 6 regulars who were injured so drafted newbies to fill their positions.
The Former Nigeria International said the management would do its best towards keeping the Sunshine Stars team together
“Ex-Super Eagles players came to me admiring my team that we have a good team and we should keep them for next season, Victor Ikpeba came to me that we have a good team same with Austin Eguavoen” Ogunja said.
“I won’t allow any club to infiltrate into my team because they have signed some contracts for two – three years, so player cannot leave without the management consent”
On the possibility of adopting abdriged league next season, Prince Ogunja said it is not a true test in determining a true champion
“I am not an advocate of abridged league because you won’t know a true champion, going through a straight league of 38 matches is strenuous but definitely you know it will bring out a champion of champions”
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