Too early: Ogunbote downplays 3SC NPFL title chance

Despite their recent resurgence, Shooting Stars coach Gbenga Ogunbote has downplayed notions that the Oluyole Warriors will vie for the Nigeria Premier Football League title this season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Shooting Stars moved up to the third position in the NPFL on Sunday, thanks to a precious 1-0 win against defending champions Rangers International in Enugu.

The victory was 3SC’s fourth in five consecutive games and their seventh in their last 10 games.

Despite starting the season slowly, they are now just three points behind joint-leaders Remo Stars and Rivers United but Ogunbote believes that the title race is still a long way off.

“We are just in week 18, we still have 20 games to go so it’s too early. Nobody beats his chest and says I’m winning the title. All we are trying to do is go beyond the stars. We want to finish strong this season,” Ogunbote said via 54FootballX after Sunday’s win.

The experienced gaffer also reflected on their win against Rangers as a huge fight, as they ended the 10-game unbeaten run of their hosts.

“Ordinarily ten games are massive. Give it to the team, we should expect fatigue to set in and we did capitalise on that. Apart from that, I think we needed the points more than them. Rangers have been on the run for 10 games, let us see if we can do the same. No disrespect, it’s a team you need to fight to get three points from.”

Before their latest run of seven wins in 10 matches, the club had endured a terrible run of just one win in their opening eight matches.

Ogunbote and Shooting Stars will hope to consolidate their new position on the log when they host Kwara United at the Lekan Salami Stadium on match-day 19 when the 2024/25 season reaches halfway.

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