Remo Stars head coach Daniel Ogumodede has expressed mixed feelings about the recently concluded Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season. Despite leading his team to a commendable second-place finish, Ogumodede admitted he fell short of his personal objective to top the league.
Reflecting on the campaign, Ogumodede lauded his players for their remarkable performance and dedication. “For the group, for the team, I say congratulations. It’s a fantastic performance. Personally, as the gaffer, I’m so proud of them,” Ogumodede said. “Their resilience, hard work, and discipline throughout the season were outstanding. Congratulations to them and the club.”
However, the coach also voiced his personal disappointment at not achieving his primary goal. “For my personal target, I term it as a failure because the target from the beginning of the season was clear—to be one step ahead of last season. We were second last season; we wanted to be first this season, obviously, and unfortunately, we couldn’t. We slipped and ended up second again.”
Remo Stars finished the season five points behind league champions Enugu Rangers, a notable gap compared to the previous season when they missed out on the title by just a single goal on goal difference. Ogumodede acknowledged the different challenges posed by the league’s full-season format this year compared to the abridged format of last season.
“It is two different league formats. Last season was an abridged format, more difficult in its own right. This season was a marathon, and it brought different lessons,” he explained. “We need to accept responsibility for everything that happened during the season.”
Looking ahead to the CAF Champions League, where Remo Stars were eliminated in the first round last time, Ogumodede is optimistic. “We always want to be better. That’s what we aim to do,” he stated, emphasizing the club’s commitment to improving on the continental stage.
As Remo Stars prepare for the next challenge, Ogumodede’s reflections serve as both a celebration of their achievements and a call to build on their experiences for greater success in the future.
