DreamStar FC Ladies
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, the highest division for women association football in the country, since the 2018/2019 season,[1] having gained promotion to the elite league by winning all their lower division's matches.
| Full name | DreamStar FC Ladies |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Galacticas |
| Founded | February 29th, 2012 |
| Ground | Agege Stadium |
| Capacity | 4,000 |
| Owner | Dream Stars Sports Development Organisation |
| Chairman | AbdulRahmon Abolore |
| Manager | Ganiyu Kehinde |
| Coach | Olowookere Bankole |
| League | Nigerian 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 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 the 29th of February 2012 by founder and chairman, AbdulRahmon Abolore.
History
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 NWPL 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
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
The 2020-2021 match fixtures:
| All league matches in 2020-2021 Season (all matches are played at 4.00pm GMT+1) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Home/Away | Venue | Matchday |
| Delta Queens FC | Away | Agbor Stadium, Delta State | 09 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 | 06 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 | 03 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 | 03 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 | 05 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 | 02 June 2021 |
| Osun Babes FC | Home | Agege Stadium Lagos | 09 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 | 07 July 2021 |
Players
2020-2021 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.
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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.
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Business Development
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.
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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
- Alao, Seyi (July 23, 2019). "Dream Stars Ladies Unveil Players For 2018/2019 NWPL Season".
- "Dream Stars Ladies, Osun Babes retain Nigeria Women Premier League status | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
- "2020 season of Nigeria's women's league to kick off on March 18". Pulse Nigeria. February 19, 2020.