Oyo Government Rejects Cash Rewards For Victorious 1998 Shooting Stars Set 27 Years After

Oyo Government Rejects Cash Rewards For Victorious 1998 Shooting Stars Set 27 Years After

 . Affected Ex-players, Officials Vow To Continue Agitations Until Promised Rewards Are Completely Fulfilled

Efforts by former players of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to receive their promised rewards for winning two titles during the 1998 football season may have faced a setback, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

According to reliable sources, State Governor Engineer Seyi Makinde has approved the allocation of land to the ex-players but has not approved the cash rewards they were promised.

In 1998, the team, then known as IICC Shooting Stars, won the domestic league title and the West African regional title, the WAFU Cup.

The players were promised cash rewards and plots of land at Kolapo Ishola Estate by the then Military Governor of the State, Compol Amen Oyakhire.

While the plots of land were initially allocated to the players and officials, they were later withdrawn by Oyakhire's successor, Governor Lam Adesina.

Since then, the promise to reward the players for their achievements has remained unfulfilled. In March 2020, the 1998 set of Shooting Stars Sports Club, led by the former Chairman Elder Bode Oyewole, began advocating for the fulfillment of these promises.

Sadly, Elder Oyewole passed away two months later, but the efforts to secure the rewards continued, now led by former Club Secretary Mr. Akin Maxwell.

In January 2025, the former players, some of whom have died while awaiting their rewards, were excited when news emerged that the State Governor had approved their rewards.

Unfortunately, their joy was short-lived as it became clear that only plots of land would be allocated, and cash rewards were not approved.

Sources indicate that the rejection of cash rewards for the 1998 set of 3SC players contradicts the recommendations of an ad-hoc committee established to verify the claims of the former players regarding the unfulfilled promises of land and cash rewards.

The committee, headed by Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe and comprising the current Chairman of 3SC, Honourable Tunde Olaniyan; Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mrs. Olubukola Oladipo; a prominent Director in the Ministry, Mrs. Bisi Adegoke; and 3SC Administrative Secretary, Mr. Babayemi, recommended that each ex-player and official be awarded plots of land as well as cash rewards.

The committee suggested that the cash rewards of one million naira for each ex-player and two million naira for each ex-official be increased by 50% to compensate for the lengthy delay in payments and account for the depreciation of value since the promise was made 27 years ago.

However, a white paper on the Reverend Ogedengbe-led committee's report was submitted to the Governor by the Office of the Head of Service, which omitted the proposed cash rewards.

The Office explained that there was no evidence indicating that the cash rewards had previously been collected by the ex-players and officials of 3SC.

Recent reports indicate that the non-approval of cash rewards has not only upset but also angered former players and officials.

They remain determined to continue their fight for what they believe they are entitled to.

A vocal member of the group expressed their frustration, stating, “The rejection of cash rewards is unfair. We are not beggars; we are simply asking for what we are owed. The government promised us rewards in 1998 for making the state proud, and yet those promises remain unfulfilled. It is disheartening and discouraging that when the time comes to fulfil these promises, the cash rewards are excluded. A promise should be kept in full.”

“We will not allow ourselves to be cheated. We will continue to advocate for our rights and will not relent until we receive all that has been promised. It doesn't matter how long it takes; we have already waited for 27 years, and we will persist in our demands. We believe Governor Seyi Makinde is a compassionate and attentive leader who will listen to our voices.”