Shooting Stars coach Gbenga Ogunbote didn’t hide his displeasure about what he perceived as biased officiating during his team’s 2-1 southwest derby loss against Ikorodu City on Sunday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Despite scoring first in the game courtesy of former Ikorodu City player Anthony Okachi, the newly promoted side responded in the second half through Shola Adelani before second-half substitute, Rivio Ayemwenre, netted the winner two minutes before the end of normal time.
It was 3SC’s fifth defeat of the season which saw them drop to the 12th position in the table, forcing the experienced gaffer to come hard against the men in the middle one more time this season.
“Honestly, it’s unfortunate,” Ogunbote began in his post-match interview via 3SC Fans TV.
“We needed not to have come. They should have just given the game to Ikorodu City, there would be no point wasting resources on how part. There is now how football is played this way, even in an undeveloped society. How do you explain this?”
When asked about the performance of his player, Okachi, the coach insisted the game wasn’t worthy of a review.
“We didn’t play any game. Do you regard this as a game between two teams? We reported several incidents but it all fell on deaf ears.”
Before their loss on Sunday, Ogunbote also decried poor officiating after a 2-1 loss against Rivers United in Port Harcourt on October 17.
Unlike last season when they almost clinched a continental ticket, 3SC have struggled for form this season, winning four, drawing three and losing five games after 12 rounds of matches.
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