Remo Stars of Ikenne coach, Daniel Ogunmodede has disclosed how his team was able to overcome deep-rooted emotional, psychological and social hurdles en route towards winning their first championship title in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Sports247 reports that Remo Stars achieved the feat last Sunday, with a 1-0 win against visiting Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna, which gave Ogunmodede’s side an unassailable ten points gap ahead of their nearest rival, Rivers Unitrd of Port Harcourt, with just three rounds of matches left to play.
READ ALSO: Remo Stars Captain Nduka Junior Inspired by Osimhen’s Post-League Title Call
The fast-rising coach has now opened up on some crucial factors that made the historic achievement possible, as he pointed at immense confidence in him from the club’s owner, Honourable Kunle Soname and what he referred to as the ‘abnormal efforts’ of his players.
Ogunmodede revealed these details during his appearance as a guest caller on the 100-hour unbroken broadcasting record achieved by ace sports presenter, George Essien (aka Mighty George) of Comfort FM in Calabar.
NPFL’s latest winning coach started by asking after Essien’s health, while also acknowledging that the record breaking sportscaster had spent four days of his continuous broadcast as at the point the interview took place, and had just few minutes left to enter the annals of Guinness Book of World Records.
They then got down to Remo Stars’ title conquest, and Ogunmodede revealed: “In this second round, in fairness to other teams, we fought hard to keep our focus. After the initial three, four, five games, we were able to pile up a good margin.
“At a point, we were even 12 points clear. Even at that point, obviously, I knew we had a very big battle ahead of us to fight. I felt confident, though, considering the experience of my squad.”
However, Ogunmodede, who is also an assistant coach in the Super Eagles’ technical crew, equally admitted that he felt lots of pressure in having to maintain the tempo, especially with memories plaguing him about how his side lost top spot over the past two seasons and ended both races as runners-up.
He recounted, “Considering what happened to us in the past … as we had lost the league title before with just a goal margin. It kept ringing in my ear, and I told my boys we must not bottle it again this time. So, it has been more of a psychological job. It was a psycho-social task, and it worked for us … it really worked for us.”
He then spoke about the role Soname played in ensuring the infantile team from the rustic countryside community of Ikenne in Ogun State became the next private individual owned club, since Udoji United of Oba in 1999, to win the Nigerian league.
Ogunmodede added, “The role of our club chairman has been huge in playing out for me as a very big factor, now for a decade. That is because of his consistency and the strong belief he has in what my person can do.
“He has so much belief in me, and he has not stopped investing in the team. He only asks, ‘Are you sure this is going to work?’ The moment I give a nod and the go ahead, he says, ‘Let’s keep going.’ He does not come with any pressure that can destabilize me or rock my plans.”
The articulate gaffer concluded with words of praise for his players, who he disclosed provided concrete material through which he was able to propel his football philosophy, and the only obstacle he had to face was how to keep coming out with match-winning ideas.
“The only challenge I have is myself, because I know I must deliver. In fact, I am condemned to deliver; in order to justify my chairman’s belief in me and the trust that I have from my players. My boys are all abnormal. They are not regular human beings, and that’s why they are now Nigeria’s champions,” Ogunmodede eulogised.
