Remo Stars head coach, Olumide Ajibolade has described The Creative Championship (TCC) as one of Africa’s leading youth development pathways, insisting that the league’s high standards are preparing young Nigerian players for bigger stages.
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Speaking exclusively with Sports247 at the TCC seventh-season media parley, Ajibolade reflected on the 2025/26 campaign, in which Beyond Limits finished top after 22 matches while Atlantic Business won the Cup.
He described the season as highly competitive, noting that Atlantic Business appeared on course for the league title before Beyond Limits produced a strong finish.
“The competition was very good for the players because it pushed them to new levels of performance and consistency.”
According to Ajibolade, the intensity of the TCC also helped Beyond Limits perform strongly at international tournaments, including the Gothia Cup, where the team conceded just one goal.
“The standard of the TCC was so high that it was almost higher than the standard in the tournament.”
He rejected the suggestion that Beyond Limits’ 19 wins from 22 matches represented simple dominance, attributing the club’s success instead to a culture built around excellence and deliberate player development.
“It’s not really dominance per se. It’s just excellence in the standards that we hold ourselves up to.”
Ajibolade also praised the improvement in refereeing during the season, highlighting the league’s collaboration with officials and introduction of VAR, which he said helped make important decisions more precise and reduced major errors.
Looking beyond Nigeria, the coach revealed that TCC is already highly regarded internationally.
“At the lenses of the European clubs, TCC is top five.”
He believes the league can rise even further but must continue improving its governance, maintaining high standards and strengthening the quality of its talent pool.
“We must continue to strive for excellence. We must continue to find new ways to strengthen the governance within the league and ensure that the talent pool is very high.”
Ajibolade’s assessment underlines the growing reputation of the TCC as a serious platform for developing young footballers and preparing them for the demands of professional and international football.
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