Battle Royale as 3SC host Berger           Posted Wednesday, Nov. 26 2008

It promises to be an explosive clash of former champions on Saturday afternoon when Shooting Stars play host to Julius Berger FC of Lagos in a National 1st Division Group B game billed for Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

Either team had enjoyed the opportunity of being crowned Nigeria League champions in the past hence Saturday’s encounter has all the trappings of a classic.

Shooting Stars, who are currently placed fourth on the 16-team table are expected to continue their winning streak following their impressive 3-2 defeat of Union Bank in Lagos last weekend.     

Berger on the other hand started the season on a poor note and lie somewhere in the bottom half of the log having secured only a win and a draw in five matches.
The Bridge Boys may therefore come out fighting against their more illustrious opponents. More so when they had been on the receiving end of a 1-0 defeat to visiting Delta Force of Asaba in Lagos last weekend. 

3SC’s Chief Coach Franklin Howard foresees a very difficult game but has expressed optimism that his team will bag the three points at stake and is leaving nothing to chance to achieve that objective. “Matches of this nature are often very difficult considering the fact that Berger lost their last match at home".

“But I believe we have what it takes to win again and brighten our chances of going to the top of the league table. Surely we shall leave no stone unturned in order to achieve that aim,” he stressed.

Idogbe promises more goals
Leading goal scorer of the National First Division, Timothy Idogbe of Shooting Stars promised to keep banging in the goals as the club intensifies efforts at returning to the elite class.

Speaking after scoring a brilliant hat trick against Union Bank last Sunday in Lagos, the Oyo State born marksman emphasized that the time has come for 3SC to take its rightful place in Nigerian football.

“First of all I wish to thank Almighty God for my performance on Sunday. I felt so delighted because it’s the first hat-trick of my career.

“However, let me stress that I shall keep working hard to repay the confidence that the team has reposed in me, and to ensure that Shooting Stars get promoted at the end of the season.
“I am happy that we are playing well as a team. This is very vital to our aspirations and I feel if we go on this way nothing’s going stop us going all the way to the top,” he added.

Idogbe has so far notched a total of four goals in the five week old season. He opened his goals account in the 1-0 defeat of Crown FC and blasted a superb hat-trick against Union Bank last weekend.