At a time when Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) is working hard to stabilize performance, build structure, and reinforce professionalism within the Nigeria Premier Football League, the recent action by the Oyo State Football Association raises serious questions about alignment, process, and intent.
The purported suspension of the club’s Sporting Director, Mr. Tobi Adepoju, issued unilaterally by the Oyo FA, appears to conflict with established football governance structures. The NPFL is a national competition with defined disciplinary channels, yet this decision seems to bypass those frameworks entirely. For a matter that occurred during an NPFL fixture, the expectation is clear: due process should flow through league authorities, supported by official reports such as that of the Match Commissioner. In this case, none has been presented.
Beyond process, there is a deeper concern around jurisdiction. Mr. Adepoju is an employee of Shooting Stars, not the Oyo FA. Disciplinary actions of this magnitude typically involve the club’s internal management structures, especially when no formal complaint has been lodged by match officials, the opposing team, or league authorities. Acting outside this structure not only undermines the club’s autonomy but also sets a troubling precedent.
Even more telling is the absence of corroborating evidence. According to the club, neither Rangers International, match officials, nor any formal body submitted complaints that would justify such a severe sanction. This raises a fundamental question: on what basis was this decision made?
Shooting Stars, in their response, took a measured and professional stance. They acknowledged the role of the FA in maintaining discipline but firmly highlighted the need for fairness, due process, and mutual respect. Their call for engagement is not resistance, it is governance done right.
At its core, this situation reflects a disconnect. While 3SC is positioning itself as a structured, forward-looking club committed to professionalism and non-violence, the FA’s approach risks creating friction rather than fostering collaboration.
Football development, especially at the state and club level, thrives on partnership. When key stakeholders operate in silos or overstep boundaries, progress is slowed, trust is eroded, and the broader ecosystem suffers.
So the real question remains:
Is the Oyo FA working with Shooting Stars to elevate football in the state, or inadvertently working against the very progress the club is striving to achieve?
Until alignment is restored through proper dialogue, adherence to process, and mutual respect, situations like this will continue to cast a shadow over what should be a shared mission, growing the game and strengthening its institutions.
