Gbenga Ogunbote has left his role as manager of Nigeria Professional Football League side Sunshine Stars after just eight months in charge with the club stuck in relegation trouble.
Ogunbote, who returned for a second spell at the Owena Whales last September, tendered his resignation on Wednesday, 26 May citing “results of the team in the last couple of months”.
Sunshine Stars have failed to win in sixteen matches and drew 0-0 with MFM on Wednesday to leave the club in 18th place, and three points from safety.
While he pointed to their poor run of form for his decision to throw in the towel with 15 games of the season left, Ogunbote said off-field problems including salary and bonuses arrears owed players created an environment that made it impossible to arrest their poor run of results.
“I took the job in anticipation that we will continue where we stopped the last time I coached the team with all hands pulling together to support and the team having better results,” Ogunbote wrote in his resignation letter seen by busybuddiesng.com.
“However, on this occasion of my relation of the team, the welfare of the team is way off the mark such that it affects morales (sic) of the players and collective motivations of the team players are my tools with my inputs to get results, results are what makes a difference in being a successful coach which, unfortunately, it’s not happening this time.”
His sudden resignation meant the former Enyimba, Rangers and Lobi Stars coach forfeited his May pay “in lieu” of his notice but he called on the club to offset “all my outstanding salaries, sign-on fees and bonuses” in “due course”.
It marks a disappointing end to Ogunbote’s second spell in Akure after he guided them to the semi-finals of the 2011 CAF Confederation Cup and 2012 CAF Champions League during his first stint at the helm. He also led Enugu Rangers to the 2018 AITEO Cup – their first in 35 years – with his side rallying from 3-0 to beat Kano Pillars 4-2 on penalties in the final at the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba.
