How VIA Football Academy Products Helped Shooting Stars gain NPFL Promotion



It’s no longer news that Shooting Stars football club of Ibadan for the first time since 2017 are back in the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL for the 2021/22 season but then, how influential were some key players?!

In this article, we shed light on VIA Football Academy Products at the club who helps achieved this success. 

While Gafaar Olafimihan might have stolen the show all season as per his double figure of goals, two of VIA football academy added so much to the all round game play of Shooting Stars; attacking midfielder, Malomo Taofeek Ayodeji and goalkeeper Dede Dare. 


Malomo started 10 matches out of 20 for 3SC and hit double figures in GA (7 goals and 3 assists) while scoring the winner in Shooting Stars Super 8 opening day 2-1 win over Bendel Insurance. 

With a superb close control of the ball, quick thinking and immaculate passing. He can score goals but also has a special skill in helping others to score.

Malomo, mainly an attacking midfielder can operate on either flank and anywhere on the offensive spine of the team. His incredible skill set allows for tactics to be changed at a whim in the full knowledge that the teenager will put in a stellar performance regardless of his position on the pitch.

While there is more to improve on the teenager’s overall play, the signs are there for him to develop to the finished product you want a footballer to attain.

In continuing his growth, he has proved to be the spine of this brilliant shooting stars team this season.



Goalkeeper Dede Dare, a strong man in between the sticks for the Edith Agoye led side as they sealed topflight ticket. 

At the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu this Tuesday, the Edith Agoye side found themselves behind to an Insurance penalty which Dede could do nothing about, but on from that penalty scored, Dare was impressive for the Ibadan side. 

He made save after save to keep the scoreline respectable before two goals for 3SC turned the tide around after they were behind inside 15mins in their playoff opener against Bendel Insurance. 

Dare was also in good form as the team got a point off Remo Stars. Little wonder that after being dropped for the final against Niger Tornadoes, Shooting Stars lost the game 3-2 to the Minna based side. 

For the owners of VIA football academy, it’s a proud moment for such a young management to be able to deliver exciting players who on the long run help their team to success. 

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