NPFL25: Shooting Stars will respect Ikorodu City- Ogunbote

NPFL25: Shooting Stars will respect Ikorodu City- Ogunbote

Faith Akindele

Ahead of this weekend's South-West Derby against Ikorodu City, Shooting Stars Sports Club coach Gbenga Ogunbote said they will accord the NFPL debutants due respect, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

The coach, however, expressed the readiness of his team to do its best in the game and prayed for a level playing ground.

Ogunbote said: "I don't disrespect any team, Ikorodu City is a team you should respect. For them to be in the Premiership, we respect them, we are not afraid of them.

 "As for the match, all we need to do is to go there and play our game. We are representing the state (Oyo State) and the entire followers of the club and we will do everything possible to defend the badge", added the tactician.

Oracle, as the gaffer is fondly called, said the emphatic win over El-Kanemi Warriors will spur the team to get a positive result in Lagos.

 "I think the outcome of this game (El-Kanemi) will boost the confidence of the boys and my prayer has always been the same, I hope we get a level playing ground in the match, with that, all we need to do is play our game, do our best to get a positive result", the highly respected Ogunbote concluded.

Both sides have previously met on two occasions, both in pre-season tourneys (ValueJet and Optima Energy Gold Cup), with the two meetings ending in stalemate 1-1 and 0-0 respectively.