Sunshine Stars’ chairman, Prince Tunde Ogunja, has praised the team’s players and technical staff for their dedication and perseverance, which enabled the team to avoid relegation.

The former Green Eagles midfielder claimed Sunshine Stars’ success was due to the players’ and the coaching staff’s dedication.

“We are 7th in the league now. You see, relegation is out of it. We are no more strugglers or battling against relegation. We are out of it completely.

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“I give it to the players and the technical team, they did well. They fought hard and it paid off.

“Whatever it takes we are moving hopefully to the end of the season.

“The next two matches, the home and away to Dakkada, I hope we win.”

While discussing Sunshine Stars’ escape from relegation, Prince Ogunja emphasized that it is not always about having good players while discussing Sunshine Stars’ motivation, hard work, and competent management.

“You may have a team with good players and they may not perform. There were matches they got set to play and l said, ‘win this match and I will give you 100,000 naira.

“I did it for them in Port Harcourt against Rivers United. We drew, l gave them 50,000. In Nasarawa, they drew l gave them 50,000”.

“You have to motivate these players. There is a lot of motivation in the team. We don’t owe salaries. We pay bonuses immediately after the match.

“That’s what has been making teams like Enyimba to thrive. Anyansi is a good administrator.

“I admire him, l envy him too. So, motivation matters in football; financial motivation, and moral motivation. Relegation is a thing of the past for Sunshine Stars”.

Ogunja thinks that the League has improved in a few growing areas, despite the unfavorable press surrounding the 2022 season, particularly in the areas of officiating and security.

“The framework and articles of operation of LMC is that security before, during and after a match be provided by the host FA.

“So any State’s FA hosting any match has to take care of security.

“I won’t lie to you, some of our referees are bad. But we thank God, they are surviving.

“The league has improved, but there are still ‘buts’ here and there.

“The length of any match depends on the referee. They have their special time.

“If the referee tells you that he will play 15 to 20 minutes after 90 minutes, you can’t query him.

“They know how they do their thing. I am not interested, l am not involved.”