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Nigeria Premier Football League side Sunshine Stars FC of Akure have pencilled down the names of their former coach Deji Ayeni, former Katsina United gaffer Tony Bulus, and erstwhile 3SC handler Festus Allen, one of which will replace Kennedy Boboye, who resigned on Sunday, The PUNCH reports.
Boboye left his role as coach of the team in the wake of their 1-0 loss to Heartland during a matchday 11 encounter in Owerri on Sunday.
“We will decide at our meeting on Monday,” Ologunloluwa told The PUNCH when asked about the club’s plan to replace Boboye.
The club are poised to appoint a new coach before their next game against Lobi Stars on Sunday following the sudden resignation, The PUNCH learnt.
“We will announce a new coach before Saturday. We have pencilled three names, which are Deji Ayeni, Festus Allen, and Tony Bulus. We know it won’t be easy, but we have to appoint a substantive coach,” another ODSFA board member who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent.
Boboye rejoined Sunshine Stars before the end of last season, marking his second stint with the club after almost leading them to a continental finish in 2015.
He guided the club out of relegation in the 2023/24 season, but they have had mixed fortunes under him this season.
After 11 matches, they sit 14th in the NPFL table, having won just four, drawn one and lost six matches.
The two-time NPFL-winning coach left his role off the back of three straight defeats, citing undue interference in his job by the Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency—the supervising agency of the club—Ologunloluwa.
“This season, my role became increasingly difficult as club executives, who lack technical coaching experience, began overstepping by directing my backroom staff on player selection decisions. When Sunshine Stars lose, they are the first to assign blame,” Boboye said via Flashscore.
“If I had faced this kind of interference at my previous clubs, I doubt I would have won the NPFL title twice. I wish them all the best moving forward.”
Ologunloluwa however refuted the coach’s claims.
“There was never any direct interference in the coaches’ job,” Ologunloluwa said in a statement issued through the club’s media manager, Femi Atolagbe.
“His resignation is accepted, and we wish him success in his future endeavours.
“The management has to speak out when things deviate from our set goals. It’s also known that some coaches have favourite players, even when they’re not the team’s best. This shouldn’t harm the team’s aspirations.
“Boboye wanted to drop Awosanmi permanently, but I advised against it. Anyone who saw the youngster’s performance in Owerri can attest to his quality despite our loss,” Ologunloluwa added.
Sunshine Stars’ next game is against Lobi Stars at their adopted home ground, the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, on Sunday.
