DreamStar FC Ladies

(Redirected from DreamStar Ladies F.C.)

DreamStar FC Ladies is a women's association football club based in Surulere Lagos State, Nigeria, and a member of the Nigerian Women Football League ( NWFL). They have competed in the Nigeria Women Premier League, which is the highest division for women association football in Nigeria, since the 2018–2019 season,[1] having gained promotion to the elite league by winning all their lower division matches.

DreamStar FC Ladies
Full nameDreamStar FC Ladies
Nickname(s)The Galacticas
FoundedFebruary 29th, 2012; 12 years ago (February 29th, 2012)
GroundAgege Stadium
Capacity4,000
OwnerDream Stars Sports Development Organisation
ChairmanAbdulRahmon Abolore
ManagerSheriff Tajudeen
LeagueNigerian Women Premier League

Known as Dream Stars Ladies, until April 2020, the DreamStar FC Ladies had the distinction of being the only club-side with a clean sheet in the 2nd Division Pro league 2017–2018 season in both Northern and Southern Conferences. DreamStar FC Ladies is the female, and most distinguished professional, squad of Dream Stars Sports Development Organisation, a grassroots soccer development company that provides a total value-chain development programme through its football academy for boys and girls to the professional stage. The Dream Stars Sports Development Organisation, its academy, and clubs were created on 29 February 2012 by founder and chairman, AbdulRahmon Abolore.

History

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DreamStar FC Ladies played in the Southern Conference of the lower division of NWFL Pro League in the 2017–2018 season, and topped the division, without losing a match. This earned them promotion to the Premier Division of the NWFL for the 2018/2019 season.

The first season in the premiership league was not without its challenges, and despite recording some memorable feats such as scoring the most goals for any debutante side (4-0 against Heartland Queens) in the NWFL history (2nd highest for any club to Bayelsa Queens' 5–1 trouncing of Kaduna Queens), and winning the NWFL Goal of the Season Award 2018/2019, scored by defender, Oluwabunmi Oladeji, DreamStar FC Ladies finished at the bottom of the table in their group. To retain their place in the premier league, DreamStar FC Ladies had to engage in play-offs against three other relegation-bound clubs from the other three groups. The debutantes (known then as Dream Stars Ladies) edged Invincible Angels 4–2 on penalties after they played out a 1–1 draw in regulation time at the FIFA Goal Project pitch, MKO Stadium, to avoid relegation. The team secured a lead in the 21st minute of the play-off, as Anuoluwapo Salisu’s corner kick found captain Judith Nwaogu, whose header beat the Heartland Queen's goalkeeper. However, the Benue State based side fought back in the second half and levelled matters in the 84th minute through Kafayat Bashiru before full-time, but eventually bowed out in the ensuing penalty kicks.[2]

2019–2020 season

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In the 2019–2020 the NWPL changes its 4-group format to 2 groups, to enable higher quality of competition. DreamStar FC Ladies have been drawn into Group A, along with Pelican Stars FC, Nasarawa Amazons FC, Sunshine Stars FC, Bayelsa Queens FC, Abia Angels FC, Confluence Queens FC, and Edo Queens FC. The top two teams from each group will qualify automatically for the Nigeria Women's Super Cup (also known as The Super 4 Championship), while the last teams from the two groups will get relegated to the NWFL - 2nd Division Pro League.[3]

2020–2021 season

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The 2020–2021 match fixtures:

All league matches in 2020-2021 Season (all matches are played at 4:00 pm GMT+1)
Opponent Home/Away Venue Matchday
Delta Queens FC Away Agbor Stadium, Delta State 9 December 2020
Edo Queens FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 16 December 2020
Abia Angels FC Away Umuahia Township Stadium 23 December 2020
Ibom Angels FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 6 January 2021
Osun Babes FC Away Osogbo Township Stadium 13 January 2021
Pelican Stars FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 20 January 2021
Royal Queens FC Away Warri Township Stadium 27 January 2021
FC Robo Queens Away Legacy Pitch Lagos 3 February 2021
Rivers Angels FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 10 February 2021
Sunshine Stars FC Away Akure Township Stadium 17 February 2021
Nasarawa Amazons FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 24 February 2021
Bayelsa Queens FC Away Samson Siasia Stadium 3 March 2021
Confluence Queens FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 10 March 2021
End of first round / Mid-season Transfer Window
Confluence Queens FC Away Confluence Stadium Lokoja 14 April 2021
Bayelsa Queens FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 21 April 2021
Nasarawa Amazons FC Away Lafia Stadium 28 April 2021
Sunshine Stars FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 5 May 2021
Rivers Angels FC Away Sharks Stadium Port Harcourt 12 May 2021
FC Robo Queens Home Agege Stadium Lagos 19 May 2021
Royal Queens FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 26 May 2021
Pelican Stars FC Away U. J. Esuene Stadium 2 June 2021
Osun Babes FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 9 June 2021
Ibom Angels FC Away Godswill Akpabio Stadium (Training Pitch) 16 June 2021
Abia Angels FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 23 June 2021
Edo Queens FC Away Uniben Sports Complex 30 June 2021
Delta Queens FC Home Agege Stadium Lagos 7 July 2021

Players

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2022 League Season

The team list for the 2020-2021 league season is as below:

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   NGA Shukurat Ayomide Bakare
2 DF   NGA Joy Onyedikachi Samson
3 DF   NGA Confidence Uchendu
4 MF   NGA Tosin Ogundeko
5 DF   NGA Chima Nwadigo
6 DF   NGA Naomi Omotine Afemikhe
7 FW   NGA Hembefan Roseline Ayatsea
8 MF   NGA Olamide Adugbe
9 MF   NGA Opeyemi Dorcas Akanbi
10 MF   NGA Grace Anuoluwapo Salisu (vice-captain)
11 MF   NGA Favour Kalu
12 MF   NGA Juliet Chika Emereole (captain)
13 MF   NGA Nenrot Galadima Kitka
14 FW   NGA Bukola Owoseni
15 DF   NGA Rashidat Ajoke Ijaola
16 DF   NGA Abosede Shoroye
17 FW   NGA Bright Ifesinachi Nnaji
18 MF   NGA Kafayat Folakemi Shittu
19 MF   NGA Zainab Funke Olayiwola
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF   NGA Opeyemi Ajakaye
21 GK   NGA Christiana Hussaini
22 MF   NGA Sofiat Omotoyosi Bankole
23 FW   NGA Olayemi Barakat Oladipupo
24 DF   NGA Obiageri Orizu
25 DF   NGA Dorcas Effiong
26 MF   NGA Tumininu Adeshina
27 FW   NGA Zainab Pelumi Yinusa
28 DF   NGA Judith Odinaka Nwaogu
29 MF   NGA Zulfah Enitan AbdulAzeez
30 MF   NGA Olamide Isiaka
31 FW   NGA Mavis Nicholas
32 MF   NGA Mary Abosede Salami
33 DF   NGA Endurance Eniola Omoraka
34 DF   NGA Ayotunde Rebecca Omiyoola
35 GK   NGA Ugonnia Miracle Okafor
38 MF   NGA Omolola Rachael Asha
39 DF   NGA Hope Olehi
40 MF   NGA Precious Obasi

2019-2020 League Season

The 2019-2020 team list as released by the club's management:

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 DF   NGA Alice Zwalbong Poney
3 DF   NGA Aishat Animashaun
4 MF   NGA Esther Kareem
6 MF   NGA Rahmat Damilola Omotosho
7 FW   NGA Ngozi Blessing Ukwuoma
8 MF   NGA Olamide Adugbe
9 MF   NGA Rachael Omolola
10 MF   NGA Grace Anuoluwapo Salisu (vice-captain)
12 MF   NGA Tosin Ogundeko
13 MF   NGA Nenrot Galadima Kitka
14 FW   NGA Bukola Owoseni
15 DF   NGA Oluwabunmi Oladeji
16 DF   NGA Naomi Omotine Afemikhe
18 MF   NGA Abosede Hawa
19 MF   NGA Elizabeth Zirike
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF   NGA Hope Olehi
21 GK   NGA Faith Omilana
22 MF   NGA Sofiat Bankole
23 DF   NGA Desire Iberaan Orlu
24 DF   NGA Lola Agnes Ajibade
25 DF   NGA Dorcas Effiong
27 DF   NGA Judith Ada Osuagwu
28 DF   NGA Judith Odinaka Nwaogu (captain)
29 DF   NGA Rosemary Ochulor
30 FW   NGA Gift Emmanuel
31 GK   NGA Onyekachi Egobirioku Eze
32 DF   NGA Rukewe Lucky
33 GK   NGA Shukurat Ayomide Bakare
37 MF   NGA Celestina Adaobi Ogunwa
40 DF   NGA Precious Obasi

Business development

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DreamStar FC Ladies and their owner, Dream Stars Sports Development Organisation, are not without the usual problem that assails privately owned soccer clubs in Africa - inadequate funding. In order to position the DreamStar FC Ladies as a truly professional club of international standard, the owner has sought the help of a sports development consulting firm to re-vamp its image and build a highly visible brand, with the intent of proving to prospective sponsors and partners that the club is not only serious about remaining in the top-flight soccer arena in Nigeria and Africa, but that it intends to remain one of the best and profitable club-sides. As a kick-off to the 2019–2020 season, the club owners have made two prominent changes.

Changes Old New
Change in Club name Dream Stars Ladies DreamStar FC Ladies
Change in Club logo

Old club logo from February 2012
till March 2020


New club logo from April 2020

Apart from listed changes, the club underwent internal process and team management changes that impacts on managing and technical improvement. Other notable improvement initiatives included design of a professional and engaging website, revamping and harmonising the social media pages, organising technical training and skills development for the coaching crew, building team psychology around the vision of the club, and establishing a supporters' club model to foster brand loyalty among Lagos fans.

References

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  1. ^ Alao, Seyi (July 23, 2019). "Dream Stars Ladies Unveil Players For 2018–2019 NWPL Season".
  2. ^ "Dream Stars Ladies, Osun Babes retain Nigeria Women Premier League status | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  3. ^ "2020 season of Nigeria's women's league to kick off on March 18". Pulse Nigeria. February 19, 2020.
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