Berger in disarray

Speaking shortly after Berger defeated visiting Shooting stars of Ibadan 2-1 in their week-14 Premier league encounter in Abeokuta. Fatai Amoo lamented the sudden disappearance of Captain Amaechi Nwanze and striker Alex Jebba including Endurance Idahor who he said has gone abroad for trials.

"I don’t know where these players have all gone. For over a week now both Amaechi and Jebba have ran away from camp except for Endurance who has gone on trials.

“These are the calibre of players that ought to be around and add to the strength of the team but where are they now", he lamented.

When told that the absence of these players were barely noticed on the pitch, he replied that Julius Berger had recruited more than enough players earlier in the season.

"We field players that are ready and fit for the game and not names. We registered those who can play at anytime and we play those who are enthusiastic and willing to excel but I must also say you need experience to compliment all these and that is where the old players come in.

On what has been responsible for the teams’ series of fantastic results in recent times, the former First bank of Lagos Coach attributed the feat to divine intervention and management motivation.

"God is the secret of our success aand we always pray to God and work hard. The boys on their parts have to pay the management back. The boys have been paid 60 percent of their sign on fees while some clubs like Enyimba are just paying. It’s just the players that should now pay back value for money", he concluded.

 …"MY BOYS ARE ROOKIES" Jossy Lad

" The match was won and lost. We played a better game today than we usually do but I must give credit to the opposing team. They were more determined to win". These were the words of disappointed Jossy Lad, chief coach of Shooting Stars Football Club of Ibadan moments after his side went down 1-2 to Julius Berger Football Club in a week 14 Globacom league duel at the MKO Abiola Stadium Abeokuta.

The match which attracted a very large turnout by the fans, saw the host going ahead in the 20th minute of play through former U-23 midfielder Iliasu Ishaku before 3SC leveled scores through a penalty perfectly taken by new entrant, Lukmon Ijaya who had come in to replace injured captain, Femi Emmanuel.

A deflected goal by Kabiru Alausa from a shot by Oseni Jimoh early in the second half sealed victory for the bridge boys.

According to the 3SC coach, they were gallant losers. "We made unneccessary mistakes. My attack today lacked bite. We played better in the first half but it is one of those things. My boys are rookies as far as the premier league is concerned but in all we didn’t have a bad day” he told Nigeriasports.com

When reminded that the teams’ poor away record is affecting the sides standing on the league, the female national team assistant coach said it is still early to start getting worried over that. "This is league championship. We still have more matches and as times goes on, we will keep getting better", he assured.

On the red card shown to the teams assistant coach, Jossy Lad insisted that it was just one of those things.

 "We have three other coaches on the bench so the red card didn’t affect my team. It happens and it’s just one of those days things don’t go as planned.

Shooting Stars presently occupy the mid-table of the league with 18 points after 14 matches while Julius Berger after 9 matches have 15 points. The Abeokuta based team has 5 outstanding matches missed during the ill-fated CAF champions’ league sojourn to play.

Reports by Opatola Adewole in Abeokuta