.As Enyimba beats Ikorodu United
SUNSHINE Stars FC has fired Samson Unuanel and technical director, Henry Abiodun. The management of the Owena Waves approved the duo’s sack, following their unending wrangling which had affected the team’s performance this season.
Coach Kayode Olujohugbe of Sunshine Queens had been named interim coach until the Ondo State Football Agency board led by Prince John Ola Mafo appoints a substantive coach later in the month. Unuanel was named handler of the Akure based outfit in December 2015, following the exit of coach Kennedy Boboye who led the team to a sixth place finish on the Nigeria Professional Football League log last season.
Goal gathered that since his arrival, he had had a strained relationship with Henry Abiodun on issues relating to tactical plan and team selection.
This has not helped the team in the new league season as Sunshine Stars FC is placed 18th on the NPFL log with one point from three games with their latest slide a 2-1 defeat to MFM FC on Wednesday at the Agege Stadium. “Coach Samson Unuanel and Henry Abiodun have been sacked by the board of the Ondo State Football Agency,” media officer, Wahab Bankole confirmed to Goal. “Both have been at loggerhead for long and that has affected the team’s performance since the season started, little wonder the team is in the relegation zone – a position that is embarrassing for a team like Sunshine. “Their row has affected the psyche of the players who have not justified the investment of the state government.”
Maenwhile, Ugochukwu Leonard was the hero of Nigeria league champions Enyimba on Thursday as they pipped Ikorodu United 1-0 in a rescheduled Week 4 game of the NPFL. Enyimba now has three points from two games. Enyimba met a strong opposition in NPFL new boys Ikorodu United and had to wait till the 89th minute to get the winner through Ugo Leonard. NPFL all-time record top scorer Mfon Udoh was set free at goal in the 27th minute, but before he could wreck havoc, he was stopped.