Fans of El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Ikorodu City FC of Lagos and Bayelsa United of Yenagoa have been hit with a rude shock that newly crowned winners of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), Remo Stars of Ikenne will not give away their remaining fixtures lightly against the three clubs.
Read Also: Adedayo’s Thunderbolt Seals Historic First NPFL Title for Remo Stars
Sports247 gathered that, of the trio, only Bayelsa United do not have anything very crucial at state (except pride) in the last three weeks of the ongoing NPFL season, but El-Kanemi are battling to escape relegation, while Ikorodu City are eyeing a continental ticket.
After emerging league winners for the first time on Sunday, expectation had been rife that Remo Stars would take their feet off the throttle when they play away to El-Kanemi next Wednesday and then home with Ikorodu City on Sunday, May 11, before ending the campaign away in Bayelsa on May 25th.
However, while speaking in the wake of Sunday’s historic feat, which came on the same day with the 59th birthday of their club owner, Honourable Kunle Soname, Remo Stars’ coach, Daniel Ogunmodede stressed that they will not take off their guard because they are now champions of Nigeria.
He, nonetheless, also admitted that he wants to enjoy the euphoria of a new champion for now and relax for a while, considering that the next game is more than a week away, during which time he can cherish the joy of victory a little longer.
Ogunmodede, who is also an assistant cosch in the Nigerian men’s senior national team, Super Eagles, then took his mind back to how he joined the new champions ten years ago and during his four years as head of technical duties in the team they finished third once, second twice and now they have become champs of football in Africa’s most populous country.
The lanky tactician declared: “It’s a very important moment for me. It brings back memories of how I arrived at this club in 2015 … which is ten years now. I spent six years as an assistant coach and director of youth football, then four years now as head coach of the team.
“We came second, second twice, and now we are champions. I am very elated and, most importantly, it came on the birthday of our influencer, president of the club.”
The smooth talking coach reckoned further that winning the league trophy for the first time on a very symbolic date is a good omen and sign of better things to come for everyone in the Ikenne-based side, which is the first South West club to win the NPFL title in 25 years, after Julius Berger FC of Lagos did it in 2000.
Ogunmodede added, “It’s a big motivation for us all. I am happy that he is happy and we are all happy that the club’s fans are happy. I am also happy that he is able to see his investment work.
“I am also grateful for his patience with me over the years in the technical aspect. I’m so elated. Though the game was … I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to enjoy being the champion of Nigeria.”
He then heaped accolades on Olamilekan Adedayo, who netted the lone goal that sank Niger Tornadoes on Sunday, marking his sixth of the season altogether and took him into the history book as the lad who scored the sizzler that gave Remo Stars their maiden league trophy and first for a private-owned club (after Udoji Uited of Awka in 1999; so Ogunmodede tagged him the club’s player of the season.
“Yes, yes and yes,” Ogunmodede retorted in monosyllables, but he opted not to elaborate on ratings for any of his players nor provide an analysis of Sunday’s matchday 35 fixture at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, Ogun State.
“Let’s just enjoy this moment for now. In the next few weeks, we’ll be talking about what our next step will be. But, trust me, we always want to be one step ahead of what we have to do or where we have to be.
“I keep saying this, we can’t lose our guard. As a club and with the structure we’ve tried to lay, we know it’s going to be here forever. It’s going to outlive us. So, we have to keep going one step ahead of whatever we are and where we are. We are champions,” Ogunmodede hammered.
, Remo Stars of Ikenne will not give away their){kind=link}