No Nigerian Club Can Match Enyimba Champions League Feat Now–Remo Stars Coach
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Coach Daniel Ogunmoded, of Remo Stars, Ikenne in Ogun State, a representative of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) in the upcoming CAF Champions League, believes that duplicating Enyimba FC’s success at the continental level would be extremely challenging for any Nigerian club.
He emphasized that the Nigerian league is still in the growth phase and requires enhancements.
Nevertheless, Ogunmoded affirmed that Remo Stars will fiercely defend the club’s honor and Nigeria’s reputation once the continental battle commences.
Enyimba FC clinched the Champions League title back-to-back in 2004 and 2005.
“Football offers surprises once in a blue moon,” he noted, recalling Aba’s club’s accomplishment two decades ago.
“As for the Champions League, we can only give our best shot.
“That’s my honest opinion; unless we want to delude ourselves, the standard of football in our country demands better player quality and improved welfare packages.
“Consider this, the average salary of my player is around N500,000, and you are up against teams paying their players $10,000, $15,000 per month, with signing bonuses reaching $300,000.
“You have clubs like Al Ahly, Zamalek in Egypt, offering such lucrative deals; and then the South African clubs, and others.
“We need an overall improvement in various areas here in Nigeria.
“However, I can assure you that we will go out there and compete; we won’t be mere participants, we will fight to uphold our badge and Nigeria’s pride.
Ogunmodede shared these thoughts in Ilorin as a guest at the AMAPRO Pre Season Football Championship final, where Abray Sports, an NNL football club, clinched the title for the second consecutive time, defeating the NPFL selected side.
The coach praised the competition’s organizers for the high-quality gameplay.
“The match showcased top-tier performance, with the NPFL side displaying the expected intensity.
“Despite that, Abray Sports’ youthful energy was remarkable; they are young and eager to establish their mark, drawing spectators in.
“However, the NPFL All Stars seemed somewhat complacent and paid the price for it,” he remarked.
He advocated for the continuity of championships like AMAPRO to elevate the standard of Nigerian leagues.
“Top European leagues thrive due to robust grassroots development programs, resulting in high-quality players.
“Hence, I urge a greater emphasis on grassroots football,” Ogunmoded concluded.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
