From shambles to solvency: How Lekan

From Lanre Agiri, Ibadan

For decades, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) lived on the oxygen of nostalgia. The “Oluyole Warriors,” once the apex predators of African football, had become a sleeping giant reclining on a crumbling foundation.

However, under the chairmanship of Hon. Taiwo Lekan-Salami, the club is currently undergoing a radical “rebirth” that seeks to marry ancient grit with modern governance.

Appointed by Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, Lekan-Salami inherited a storied institution that was rich in history but poor in structure. His response has been a clinical overhaul of the club’s DNA, moving away from the “business as usual” model toward a professionalized, revenue-driven era.

The most tangible evidence of this new era isn’t found in a trophy cabinet—yet—but in the club’s bank account. During a recent high-stakes Ibadan derby, the club recorded a staggering ₦6.6 million in gate takings.

For a league that has historically struggled with stadium attendance and “leakages” in ticket revenue, this figure is a watershed moment. It proves that when fans trust the administration and feel safe in a modernized Lekan Salami Stadium, the “Warrior Spirit” translates directly into economic power.

“We are not just playing for points; we are building a sustainable brand,” a management source noted. “The fans are returning because they see a club that respects its heritage enough to fix its future.”

Lekan-Salami’s reform agenda has been described as a “quiet revolution” discerning faithful of the club. By leveraging his background in administration and business, he has introduced administrative transparency: Streamlining the hierarchy between the technical bench and the front office to eliminate the “instability” of previous years.

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He has also been collaborating with sports authorities to ensure the Lekan Salami Stadium pitch remains a premier destination for elite football.

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Recognizing that a “Warrior” cannot fight on an empty stomach, the Lekan-Salami led administration has also prioritized player welfare and consistent internal coordination.

Despite the focus on the balance sheet, the ultimate goal remains the pitch. 3SC has been haunted by a major trophy drought stretching back to the late 1990s. Lekan-Salami is not ignoring this legacy; he is weaponizing it.

By stabilizing the club’s finances and professionalizing its operations, he has created an environment where the players can focus solely on the game. The “Optimism of the Oluyole” is no longer a blind hope—it is a calculated expectation.

The road to the summit of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) is long, but the blueprint in Ibadan is clear: Stability breeds success.

If the current trajectory holds, the Oluyole Warriors won’t just be remembering their glory days—they will be reliving them.

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