Gbenga Ogunbote: Players’ strike affected us against Al Ahly

Oct 6, 2012 8:25:00 PM

Sunshine Stars' coach says they could not do much against Ahly because the players' strike affected their build up to the game

Sunshine Stars coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has said that the strike by players of the team affected them against Al Ahly in the first leg semi-finals of the Caf Champions League which ended 3-3 at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode on Saturday.

Ogunbote told Goal.com after the match in Ijebu Ode that they could not prepare very well because of the strike.

"My players were on strike and started training just last Monday. We had only four days of active training and you know it was not enough for the game against Ahly.

"The strike did not help us in any way. When we were supposed to be training, the players were agitating for their money.

"So we lost about four days of training. It showed in the match because some of the players could not carry themselves very well.

"They were unable to raise their game in the match. Even when they were on strike, they did not train individually.

"The players got what they wanted because the owners of the club paid 50 percent of the sign on fees.

"But after they got the money, they failed to play well against Al Ahly.

"Maybe this will be a lesson to our players in Nigeria that as much as they do things to get what rightfully belongs to them; they should not lose the fact of training well for matches.

"If not for the strike, I am sure the boys would have played better in the game against Al Ahly," Ogunbote added.