BY JOHNKENNEDY UZOMA, OWERRI

A foreign football scout, Siñervo-Nicol Tina, has pledged her unwavering support to help propel local Nigerian side, Akabo United Football Club, to the international football scene through sustained development and professional exposure.

Speaking during a press conference held at the Community Primary School Akabo playing ground in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, Tina, who is also the Vice President and promoter of the club, expressed delight at the progress made by the team since her involvement in 2022.

Tina, a sports management and administration expert trained at Finland University, revealed that she became associated with the club during a visit to Imo State for a school-related program. She said her mission was to contribute to building a competitive football team that would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with elite clubs in Nigeria and beyond.

“I am already tightly connected to Akabo United, which originally started as Legacy Club before we registered officially with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC),” she explained. “We are building a scouting programme that is gaining recognition not only here in Imo State but also in Abuja, Lagos, and other parts of Nigeria.”

Tina, who has a background in managing Nigerian teams and collaborations with Finnish football academies, emphasized her commitment to nurturing grassroots talent. She described the players as strong and energetic and disclosed her long-term dream of establishing a football academy in Imo State to further harness local potential.

“As a career woman and sports promoter, my mission is to uplift young people through football. We are committed to helping our players find opportunities abroad,” she added.

She called on the government, corporate bodies, and well-meaning individuals to support Akabo United FC through sponsorship and funding, which she said would help elevate the club to greater heights.

Earlier, the club’s founder and head coach, Arikibe Darlington, hailed Tina as the backbone of the team, highlighting her role in opening doors for the players through her wide network. He reaffirmed the club’s progress since its inception in 2018, despite financial constraints.

“Funding remains a major challenge,” Darlington noted, “but with Siñervo-Nicol Tina’s dedication and contacts, we have travelled to different places and gained exposure.”

The event was capped by a team photograph, with Tina flanked by Coach Darlington and the players of Akabo United FC, symbolising unity and hope for a brighter football future.

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BY TOSIN OMOJOLA, MEDIA OFFICER, 3SC

The newly appointed Executive Chairman of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, Taiwo Lekan Salami, has paid a courtesy visit to the leadership of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). This visit is part of his ongoing familiarisation tour since assuming office.

Salami met with NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, at the league body’s headquarters in Abuja, where both football administrators engaged in constructive discussions aimed at fostering the growth and development of the domestic league.

During the brief but impactful meeting, the duo brainstormed on key issues affecting club football in Nigeria, with a focus on strengthening the operational capacity of 3SC and aligning the club’s vision with the broader goals of the NPFL.

The visit underscores Honourable Salami’s commitment to repositioning the Ibadan-based club as a competitive force in Nigerian football, while also reinforcing strategic relationships with key stakeholders.

Details of the deliberations were not made public, but both parties reportedly expressed optimism about the future of 3SC and the NPFL under their respective leaderships.

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General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Dimeji Lawal, has expressed strong optimism about a promising new era for the historic Ibadan-based football club, following the appointment of Taiwo Lekan Salami as the new Executive Chairman.

In a statement issued by the club’s media officer, Tosin Omojola, Dimeji Lawal is quoted as anticipating a new era for the club.

Popularly known in football circles as Kabongo, Dimeji Lawal praised the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for what he described as a visionary and strategic move in appointing Salami, a respected businessman and sports enthusiast, to lead the club’s revival.

The club’s general manager is quoted as having told the Shooting Stars Media that he greatly appreciated the efforts of the immediate past chairman of the club, Babatunde Olaniyan, who is popularly known as “Akoro.”

 Lawal, a former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles winger who also played for Femo Scorpions, Julius Berger, and the Shooting Stars (3SC) in his active days, began by acknowledging the efforts of the club’s immediate past chairman, Babatunde Olaniyan “Akoro.”

“To start with, I want to appreciate His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, who has never hidden his intention to return the glory days of Shooting Stars,” said Lawal.

“His Excellency’s appointment of Akoro was not a mistake. He laid a solid foundation and brought some level of transformation to the club. However, we all understand that true growth takes time. Now, with Honourable Taiwo Lekan Salami, I believe the governor has once again made a wise and deliberate choice — the right peg in the round hole.”

Lawal described Salami as a man driven by passion, pedigree, and purpose. He emphasised the chairman’s strong family ties to football — a legacy deeply rooted in the very identity of the club, whose iconic Lekan Salami Stadium is named after his late father, Chief Lekan Salami, under whose leadership 3SC enjoyed one of its most glorious eras.

“In Honourable Salami, I see a man ready to break new ground and restore Shooting Stars to its rightful position — not just in Nigerian football, but on the continental and global stages,” Lawal noted. “He comes from a football-loving family, and he possesses vast knowledge of how a professional club should be structured and run.”

The 3SC boss further pointed out that the new chairman’s stature in politics, sports, and business gives him the leverage to open new doors for the club, especially in the areas of sponsorship, infrastructure, and youth development.

“The name Lekan Salami carries a legacy that commands respect and influence. Add to that, Honourable Taiwo Lekan Salami himself is a man of influence, who has already hit the ground running.

“From my interactions with him, it’s clear that he is determined to lift this club beyond its current standing,” Kabongo added.

Lawal believes that with Salami’s leadership, 3SC is set for a transformational journey that could see the club reclaim its historical status among Nigeria’s football elite — and even surpass past achievements.

“All he has outlined is achievable. His energy, conviction, and strategic thinking show that no obstacle is too great if the will is strong. It is indeed the dawn of a new era for this great club,” he said.

He concluded by calling for the collective support of all stakeholders — fans, former players, sponsors, and government — to rally behind the new chairman’s vision.

“With unity and support, I foresee 3SC reclaiming its rightful place in Nigerian football and returning to continental prominence under the leadership of Honourable Taiwo Lekan Salami,” Lawal stated.

Shooting Stars, one of Nigeria’s oldest and most storied football clubs, has seen fluctuating fortunes in recent years.

With this fresh leadership, stakeholders are hopeful that the club can once again rise to become a dominant force on and off the pitch. 

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