Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) head coach Gbenga Ogunbote has been invited by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to explain his comments after a fixture.
The coaching veteran will face an investigative hearing over an interview he granted to the media at the end of 3SC’s Matchday 12 fixture in Lagos against Ikorodu City.
The Ibadan side lost 2-1 to their hosts, and the league body considers some of the positions Ogunbote expressed as a breach of the code of conduct for the NPFL coaches.
“Honestly, it’s unfortunate,” Ogunbote said in his post-match interview with 3SC Fans TV, insinuating that the match officials were biased against his team.
“We needed not to have come. They should have just given the game to Ikorodu City, there would be no point wasting resources on our part.
“There is no how football is played this way, even in an undeveloped society. How do you explain this?”
The NPFL has therefore written to Ogunbote to explain his comments.
“We have taken note of certain unguarded public statements attributed to you following the Matchday 12 fixture between Ikorodu City FC vs. Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), held on 17th November 2024,” the league body said in the letter inviting Ogunbote.
“Your remarks, as reported, appear to contravene the League’s Code of Conduct for Coaches and Officials by casting aspersions on the integrity of the match officials and the League’s governance structure. These actions are considered detrimental to the reputation of the NPFL and its stakeholders.”
The NPFL has set December 3 as the date for the 3SC boss to appear before the its Disciplinary Committee for an inquest.
The venue is the NPFL Secretariat in Jabi district of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“Your appearance is mandatory, and you may come with any relevant evidence or representation to support your position. Kindly confirm your attendance on or before Friday, 29 November 2024,” the NPFL added in the letter, signed by Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer.
