Ogunbote Reportedly Frustrated With Events At Sunshine Stars

Gbenga Ogunbote is reportedly increasingly frustrated and disillusioned with life at Sunshine Stars and is considering his future with the Owena Whales busybuddiesng.com has learnt.

A source close to the coach who guided Lobi Stars to a 4th place finish on the Points Per Game (PPG) table last season, revealed the former Enyimba and Rangers gaffer is far from happy with events at the club with players owed five months arrears and refusing to resume for the season.

The situation is a far cry from the picture sold to Ogunbote who returned to the club for a second spell in September amid fanfare and celebrations.

The coach famously called “The Oracle” for his tactical acumen, confounded expectations when he led Sunshine Stars to the semi-finals of the 2011 CAF Confederation Cup and 2012 CAF Champions League during his first stint at the helm.

But he has rejoined a club in deep disarray with players and officials routinely owed and a squad that has been hallowed out by the mass exodus of key players including goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke (Abia Warriors), midfielders Anthony Omaka (Enyimba), Jide Fatokun (Kwara United), forward Wasiu Jimoh (Plateau United) and defender Jamiu Alimi.

A promised retooling of the squad to replace the departed players is yet to materialise.

Ogunbote is reportedly particularly disappointed by the lack of clarity and communication from the club’s management about plans for the upcoming season.

“The only people you can talk to about why the team has not resumed [preparations for next season] is the management,” the source who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

The reported postponement of the kickoff date for the 2020-21 Nigeria Professional Football League season by a week to 13 December might be a welcome development in Akure but it remain to be seen if the club’s myriad problems are resolved before then.