Oyo SWAN vs Shooting Stars SC — A Clash That Should Never Have Happened
Why Governor Abiodun Oluwaseyi Makinde must Wade in now before it's too late.
By Samson Balogun
Sports Writer and Lover of the Game
I fell in love with the game long before I made it my passion and profession. That’s why watching what’s unfolding between the Oyo State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) feels so disheartening. This isn’t just another disagreement — it’s a dangerous standoff between two vital arms of Oyo sports. And make no mistake, this clash does no one any good.
As someone who has spent years covering Oyo sports, it’s painful to see two institutions that should be partners in progress now standing on opposite sides. It’s bad for the image of the club, bad for journalism, and worst of all, bad for the fans who live and breathe the game.
Where It All Went Wrong
According to the communiqué issued after Oyo SWAN’s congress held on September 24, 2025, the association’s patience finally snapped over persistent accreditation bottlenecks and disrespectful treatment of journalists covering 3SC’s home matches. The situation reportedly worsened after a certain Mr. Idris Animashun, said to be close to the club’s management, allegedly made a statement claiming he had “authority over all journalists in Oyo State.”
That remark — if truly made — was not just out of line; it was a direct insult to the journalism profession. Journalists are not subordinates of football clubs; they are partners in promoting the game, telling its stories, and connecting teams with their supporters. Undermining them is like unplugging the very microphone that amplifies a club’s voice to the world.
In response, Oyo SWAN declared a boycott of all Shooting Stars home matches and placed a media blackout on the club until a formal apology is tendered. It was a drastic move — but one born out of accumulated frustration. When professionals are consistently disrespected, patience eventually runs out.
The Rumor That Almost Derailed Everything
Just when emotions were already boiling, another distraction surfaced — a rumor claiming that the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Wasilat Adegoke, had gifted Oyo SWAN ₦250,000 after the Nigeria vs. Rwanda women’s match in Ibadan.
It was an allegation designed to discredit the association and paint its leaders as compromised. But Oyo SWAN Chairman, Ayomiku Ajibola, wasted no time in setting the record straight. In a statement released on October 2, 2025, he dismissed the claim as false, malicious, and intended to tarnish the association’s integrity.
That swift and transparent response was commendable. In an industry where credibility is currency, defending one’s integrity is not optional — it’s essential.
Why This Rift Hurts Everyone
Here’s the bitter truth: when the media and the club clash, football itself suffers.
The press is the bridge between the players and the public — the lens through which fans experience their team’s triumphs and struggles. A media blackout on 3SC matches doesn’t just silence journalists; it disenfranchises the teeming fans we all share, whether as a football club, publishers, broadcast journalists, or photojournalists.
These fans depend on our collective work — the match reports, the photographs, the interviews, the live commentaries — to stay connected to their beloved team. Taking that away from them is like locking the stadium gates on matchday and telling the supporters to stay home.
For a club like Shooting Stars, which thrives on community identity and emotional connection, this is counterproductive. At a time when the Oluyole Warriors are regaining competitive momentum, losing media visibility is the last thing they need.
Leadership Must Rise Above Ego
This is where leadership — not ego — must take charge. The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, as the number one supporter of 3SC, should wade in and restore peace. The Chairman of Shooting Stars SC Hon. Taiwo Lekan Salami also bears a duty to ensure that professionalism and mutual respect define the club’s engagement with the media. Not forgetting that even the sporting director is one of us and will always be "once a journalist, always a journalist".
Oyo SWAN, on its part, must remain open to reconciliation. Boycotts make statements, but dialogue makes progress. The association’s unity and credibility are its greatest strengths — and they must not be compromised, even in moments of provocation.
My Take as a Sports Writer
This entire episode should never have happened. I’ve followed 3SC since my early days as a fan, long before I became a sports writer. The club represents history, pride, and resilience — values that should bind, not divide, everyone involved in Oyo sports.
Both sides must remember that we are partners, not opponents. We share the same audience, the same passion, and the same dream — to see the game flourish. The energy being spent on this standoff could be better used in telling inspiring stories, nurturing young talents, and celebrating the sport that unites us all.
As a sports lover and professional, I know one truth that never changes: when brothers fight to the death, there are no winners — only scars.
It’s time to put pride aside and return to purpose. The fans are watching. The game is calling. And football, as always, deserves better.
Because in the end, football loses when pride wins.