Paragraph 1: The Accusation and Initial Denial
Shooting Stars Sports Club, a Nigerian football club competing in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), has vehemently denied accusations of match-fixing leveled against them by a radio presenter, Sola Aiyegbajeje. The allegations, aired during a sports program on Prince FM, Ibadan, sparked immediate controversy and prompted a strong response from the club. Aiyegbajeje accused Shooting Stars of deliberately losing or manipulating the outcomes of multiple NPFL matches, specifically mentioning games against Katsina United, Lobi Stars, and Remo Stars. The club’s management, through their media officer Tosin Omojola, issued a press statement denouncing the accusations as "baseless, barbaric, and unfounded," demanding that Aiyegbajeje provide substantial evidence to support his claims or face legal repercussions.
Paragraph 2: Specific Allegations and the Club’s Rebuttals
The radio presenter’s accusations centered around several specific matches. Aiyegbajeje alleged that Shooting Stars "sold" the match against Lobi Stars, and pointed to a supposed 2-2 draw against Katsina United where the team allegedly surrendered a two-goal lead as further evidence of match manipulation. Shooting Stars countered this claim by stating that the match against Katsina United actually ended in a 1-0 loss for them, not a draw. This factual discrepancy immediately cast doubt on the veracity of Aiyegbajeje’s claims. The club’s swift and detailed rebuttal of this specific allegation served to undermine the presenter’s overall narrative of deliberate match-fixing.
Paragraph 3: Accusations Against the Club Chairman and Alleged Insider Information
The allegations extended beyond the team’s performance on the field to include accusations against the club’s chairman, Honourable Babatunde Olaniyan, also known as ‘Akoro’. Aiyegbajeje accused Olaniyan of offering bribes to match officials to influence game outcomes. He further claimed to have received insider information from a whistleblower alleging that players were paid to underperform and that match officials favored Shooting Stars based on pre-arranged agreements. Aiyegbajeje recounted an anecdote where a supporter allegedly overheard players discussing a pre-game arrangement on the field. These claims, presented without concrete evidence, painted a picture of widespread corruption within the club and raised serious questions about the integrity of their matches.
Paragraph 4: Shooting Stars’ Response and Challenge to the Presenter
Shooting Stars responded forcefully to these expanded allegations. They emphasized that no one affiliated with the club had given an interview to Prince FM, questioning the source and validity of the presenter’s claims. The club expressed strong disapproval of the "unprofessional outburst" and the targeting of their players and officials. They directly challenged Aiyegbajeje’s assertion about the chairman offering bribes to match officials, questioning how he had arrived at such a conclusion without any evidence. The club’s response highlighted the lack of journalistic integrity in the presenter’s approach, emphasizing the absence of verifiable sources or corroborating evidence.
Paragraph 5: The Club’s Assertion of Integrity and Promise of Legal Action
While acknowledging recent poor performance on the pitch, Shooting Stars reiterated their commitment to fair play and transparency. They firmly denied any involvement in match-fixing or any activity that would tarnish the club’s image or bring disrepute to the sport. To underscore their commitment to clearing their name, the club issued a formal demand for concrete evidence from Aiyegbajeje to substantiate his claims. They explicitly stated that failure to provide such evidence would result in legal action against both the presenter and the radio station. This strong stance signaled their determination to defend their reputation and hold the accuser accountable for the potentially damaging allegations.
Paragraph 6: The Context of the Accusations and the Club’s Standing
The match-fixing accusations come at a difficult time for Shooting Stars. They are currently struggling in the lower half of the NPFL table, facing increasing pressure as the season nears its end. The allegations, if proven true, could have severe consequences for the club, including fines, point deductions, or even relegation. However, in the absence of credible evidence, the accusations appear more like speculative commentary based on the team’s poor performance rather than substantiated claims of wrongdoing. The club’s strong denial and threat of legal action indicate their willingness to fight to protect their reputation and ensure that any such serious allegations are based on factual evidence and due process.
