Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) Sporting Director, Tobi Adepoju, has appealed to supporters of the Ibadan -based club to show greater patience, unity and constructive support as the Oluyole Warriors prepare for their CAF Confederation Cup and Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaigns.
Adepoju made the appeal at a one-day supporters’ seminar organised by 3SC FANTV, which brought together representatives of different supporters’ groups and other key stakeholders ahead of what promises to be a demanding new season.
The Sporting Director urged the club’s supporters to avoid placing unnecessary pressure on the players, stressing that positive encouragement and mental support could play an important role in helping the squad perform at its best.
“Supporters should help take the pressure off the players by encouraging them. This will bring out the best in them,” Adepoju said.
Adepoju also cautioned supporters against using pre-season results as the sole measure of the team’s prospects for the new campaign, noting that friendly matches are primarily intended to help coaches assess players, develop tactical systems and build match fitness ahead of competitive fixtures.
He acknowledged that representing 3SC in Ibadan comes with significant expectations, particularly when players step onto the pitch at the club’s home ground, where the passion and demands of the Oluyole Warriors’ supporters are well known.
However, he appealed to the fans to ensure that their passion does not become an additional burden for the players.
The Sporting Director expressed confidence that 3SC can produce improved performances in both the CAF Confederation Cup and NPFL, pointing to the recruitment of experienced players as part of the club’s efforts to strengthen the squad and increase its competitiveness.
He called on supporters to remain mentally strong and united throughout the season, while assuring them that the club’s management is working to prepare the team for the challenges ahead.
Also speaking at the seminar, the Chairman of the Oyo State Football Association, Oba James Odeniran, commended 3SC FANTV for organising what he described as a laudable initiative.
Odeniran noted that the event was significant because it brought together supporters from different factions of the Shooting Stars supporters’ family, providing an opportunity for dialogue, unity and collective reflection.
He described the gathering as the first of its kind in the history of the club’s supportership, stressing the importance of maintaining a united supporters’ base as 3SC prepares for simultaneous continental and domestic challenges.
The seminar was also attended by the Chairman of the 3SC General Supporters Club, Elder Oyeniyi Oluwafemi, alongside leaders and representatives of other supporters’ factions.
Discussions at the seminar centred on strengthening unity among 3SC supporters, promoting constructive criticism, improving communication between supporters and the club, and creating a positive atmosphere around the team.
With the CAF Confederation Cup and NPFL providing major competitive tests for the Oluyole Warriors, stakeholders agreed on the importance of ensuring that supporters remain a source of motivation rather than additional pressure for the players.
For 3SC, the message from the seminar was clear: passion remains central to the club’s identity, but unity, patience and constructive support will be equally important as the Oluyole Warriors embark on a challenging new season.
