Shooting Stars Sports Club Technical Adviser, Nurudeen Aweroro, has declared that the Oluyole Warriors will be aiming for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title next season after securing a return to continental football.
Speaking exclusively with Sports247 during the colourful appreciation ceremony held in honour of veteran football administrator Chief Olaseinde Bankole (Zico) at the Oba Moshood Alani Oyede Mini Stadium, Joju, Sango-Ota, Aweroro expressed confidence that the Ibadan giants are building on the success of the 2025/26 campaign.
The event, organised by the Leventis Joju Area Sports Committee in conjunction with Office Affair Project, brought together prominent football personalities to celebrate Bankole’s immense contributions to grassroots football development.
Reflecting on Shooting Stars’ preparations ahead of the new NPFL season, scheduled to kick off between August 28 and 30, 2026, Aweroro revealed that the club has already entered the next phase of its preseason programme.
“Yes, we are at the next level of preparation. We need to think about how to get better than last season. We have resumed and trying to get some new players,” he told Sports247.
The experienced tactician acknowledged the expectations surrounding the club after guiding Shooting Stars back to continental football for the first time in over two decades. He stressed that the achievement would only serve as motivation to push for even greater success.
“Shooting Stars has done remarkably well several decades ago, and now we are back on the continent after more than two decades. Definitely, we are trying our best to push more, but God is with us. Without God, it is not going to be easy.”
After finishing third in the NPFL to secure a place in the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup, Aweroro insists the club’s ambition has now shifted to winning the league championship.
“Of course, we ended up in third position, and next season, we are looking forward to winning the league title.”
With recruitment already underway and preparations gathering momentum, Shooting Stars will be hoping to translate their renewed ambition into silverware as they prepare to compete on both the domestic and continental fronts in what promises to be a demanding but exciting 2026/27 campaign.
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