Sports
3SC FC Confirms Fuji Icon, Taye Currency, Agboola As Goodwill Ambassadors
NIGERIAN football club based in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, Shooting Stars Sports Club, popularly known as 3SC/ Oluyole Warriors, on Thursday unveiled fuji star, Taye Adebisi Akande Currency, and veteran journalist, Olayinka Agboola as its newest goodwill Ambassadors.
The far-famed musician, Taye Currency and the Publisher of Parrot Xtra Magazine / PMParrot.com, Olayinka Agboola will work with Shooting Stars Sports Club on a series of events to highlight the challenges faced by the team and supporting its dreams
Welcoming the guests at a ceremony held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, the Project Coordinator and leader of the Supporters’ Club, Mr Femi Oyeniyi disclosed that the unveiling of the Goodwill Ambassadors was the first part of plans to reposition 3SC.
His statement reads, “Unveiling our Goodwill Ambassadors is the very first step. Our focus is to raise N500 million for the club. We believe this is exactly possible if we all forge a common front. The government alone cannot continue to fund the club. We want the club to meet world standards. 3SC is a team that has a traditional big name in Africa. We must work hard to ensure that it lives up to its billings”.
Also, in his goodwill message, renowned socialite, Mr Semiu Adenekan popularly addressed by his fans as DJ Semight urged all concerned to join hands to reposition 3SC.
While delivering his message, the fuji star, Taiye Adebisi Currency pledged to give his best to contribute to the growth of the team.
3SC FC Goodwill Ambassadors flanked by the team’s General Manager. (L-R) Yinka Agboola, Rasheed Balogun and Taye Akande Adebisi
“I believe in what 3SC stands for. The club is one of those things we use to boast as indigenes of Ibadanland. I am going to pull all the strings I can to make sure I make an impact. I implore us all to continue to pray for both the players and management so that the team can return to the elite division.”
Remarking, the former Chief Press Secretary to late Governor Lam Adesina, Olayinka Agboola thanked those who made the event possible, especially those who came up with all the concepts and programmes that will return 3SC to the expected pedestal in the comity of viable sporting clubs.
“When I was first approached by Mr Steve Akadiri on the issue of becoming an Ambassador, I must confess, I never took him serious. However, he was, eventually able to convince me that the task is worth taking up.
“Those who know me and what I do know that I am sincerely interested in 3SC’s welfare, especially the politics and the political ‘wiremesh’ around it.
Mr Semiu Adenekan presenting 3SC FC Jersey to one of the team’s Goodwill Ambassador, Agboola
“In the past 14 years as publishers of PMParrot and Parrot Xtra Magazine, we have continued to do our best for the uplift of the football club”, the veteran journalist explained.
He, however urged the owner government, under the leadership of Governor Abiola Ajimobi to do all it can to seriously set in motion how to return the club to its former position as a pacesetter on the football scene in Nigeria and indeed Africa.
He averred that, by doing this, the government will be helping to uphold the heritage which 3SC stands for.
Agboola added, “by extension, I wish to call on all colleagues in the media profession, our radio stations, television stations and online platforms to work with us so that we can build the right kind of followership for the team. If we do this, the followers will in turn help the club.
“ I implore industry big guns and the corporate world in this part of the country to also join the project of lifting up 3SC. Together, the dream of taking the team to the greatest heights will be achieved”.
The event had in attendance, the Chairman of 3SC, Mr Gbolagade Busari, its General Manager, Mr Rasheed Balogun, Alhaji Yekeen Ahmed, Mr Akinade Okediran, Hon Kehinde Agboola, Mr Gboyega Makinde of the Oyo State Sports Council, Mr Niyi Alebiosu of Oyo SWAN, Mr Olumide Oludare of Development Support Centre, Ibadan and several other sports lovers.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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