Give us trophies - Fans beg Sunshine

Supporters of Sunshine Stars of Akure are eager to see the team win their first major piece of silverware as the club marks the 28th anniversary of its formation, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Established January 11, 1995, the Owena Whales clocked 28 on Wednesday, with their anniversary post on official social media pages of the club met with warm congratulatory messages and clamour for titles by their fans.

“Another January 11 returns; today we celebrate the 28th founding anniversary of our Heritage, Essence & Pride. Happy Birthday Sunshine Stars FC,” the club posted in the early hours of Wednesday.

One of the club’s followers on Twitter, Toba Deji, wrote, “Happy birthday Sunshine FC. We’ll celebrate NPFL in Akure very soon.”

On Facebook, another follower, Josiah Ifedayo commented, “Happy birthday to my only darling team, Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure. Big thanks to Late Sir Gowon of Africa and host of others that fought for the emancipation of the team. I pray for the management of the team under the auspices of indefatigable coach Edith Agoye. God will continue to guide our own team so as to return to winning ways. Continental is sure.

“Long life sunshine stars. Make una no drag relegation zone this season o,” Olubunmi Arogunjo also wrote on Facebook.

A resident supporter of the club in Akure, Karim Olaleke, said, “I have watched the team at its highest and I have also watched them when things were going bad. The journey has been a mixture of joy and pain for me as a fan, and I hope that one day, I will watch this team win the NPFL particularly, and I also want to see them return to the continent and make us proud again like they did in 2011 an 2012.”

In a chat with the Chairman of Sunshine Stars FC Supporters’ Club, Tunde Adeboboye, he said the team is poised for titles as they go into a new season.

“We thank God for his mercies over we the supporters, we have been supporting this club since its establishment and it is our prayer that one day, we will celebrate winning the league and even the FA Cup,” Adeboboye told PUNCH Sports Extra.

While domestic titles have eluded the club, Sunshine Stars reached the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup and the CAF Champions League in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

They are drawn in Group B of the 2022/23 abridged season of the Nigeria Professional Football League and they will face newly promoted side, Doma United in their opening game on Sunday in Gombe.