In a decisive 4-1 victory over Heartland FC, Remo Stars head coach Daniel Ogunmodede praised his team’s performance while emphasizing areas for improvement as they continue their push for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title.
Reflecting on the match, Ogunmodede acknowledged the challenging nature of facing a team battling relegation. “Fantastic win. We expected a tough match because, like I used to say, the most difficult people to fight are people drowning. Heartland is a very good team, but unfortunate in the season. We expected a tough game because they are actually fighting for the pride of their crest,” he stated.
Understanding the stakes, Remo Stars came into the game with clear objectives. “We know how much the game meant to us,” Ogunmodede continued. “Enyimba drew at home to a team struggling. So that is to tell you what it means playing a team under the table.”
The strategy paid off as Remo Stars took control early, netting two goals in the first half, which bolstered their confidence. “For us, it was a good game. We were able to score two goals in the first half, which gave us a lot of confidence coming into the second half and we consolidated with two more goals, which is good for us,” Ogunmodede noted. He also emphasized the importance of scoring heavily in such crucial matches. “We actually knew we needed more goals in this match and we tried to get as many as we can.”
Despite the commanding win, Ogunmodede identified defensive solidity as an area needing improvement. “Defensively, we want to get better. We want to be a team that goes most times without conceding. Unfortunately, it has not happened like that in the last five games, which is not good for us. That is not what we stand for,” he said, stressing the need for a balanced approach in both attack and defense.
With two matches remaining, Remo Stars are just two points behind league leaders Enugu Rangers. Ogunmodede and his team are keenly aware of the slim margin and are hoping for a slip-up from Rangers to seize the NPFL title. “We want to defend as much as we can, as much as we attack. We score, we deny opponents scoring,” he added.
As the season draws to a close, Remo Stars remain focused on their title ambitions, ready to capitalize on any opportunity to leapfrog Enugu Rangers and claim the championship.
