NPFL: Ogunmodede warns Remo players against complacency
Remo stars coach Daniel Ogunmodede has charged his players not to take their feet off the gas in their quest to win the club’s first Nigeria Premier Football League title, despite holding an eight-point gap at the top of the table currently, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.
Ogunmodede’s side maintained their lead in the NPFL last Saturday, beating former champions Kano Pillars 2-1, moving up to 48 points at the top with southwest rivals 3SC behind them in second place.
Their 2-1 win over Pillars was however not perfect, as the visitors dominated the game to the dismay of Ogunmodede.
“It’s not a very good day for us but to be champions, some days will be like this and the most important thing is having the spirit to conquer. We didn’t play to our best but we have the maximum points which is what is important to our course,” Ogunmodede said after the win.
“It’s one of those things, some of the players have this belief that we are there already but we are not. We have learnt a lot of lessons in our last three games. But I must salute their courage too, they fought hard.”
Having agonisingly missed out on the title in the last two seasons, the gaffer has been outspoken about their desire to win the league this term. In one of his halftime talks shared by the club during their spirited 3-2 win over Abia Warriors, Ogunmodede charged his players not to get carried away.
“If you want to be the best, you be the best. I don’t want any better player. I don’t want any good players here. It’s either you’re the best or nothing,” the coach charged.
“If you throw away games like this, you will never come back like this again. And for a champion, you don’t trail twice like this, if not you will suffer for it.”
They came back from two goals down to win the game 3-2.
Unbeaten in their last eight games, Remo Stars have recorded the highest number of wins so far this season, winning 15, drawing three and losing five matches. Four of those wins have come in away games, making them the best team on the road this season as well.
They have scored 32 goals in the process which is the league’s second-highest at the moment behind Ikorodu City’s 34 goals. Defensively, they have also chipped in 17 goals – a joint-third defensive record so far this season.
Remo’s win against Pillars also extended the winning streak to six games, the first time they will do that in the history of the NPFL.
Last season, they lost the title to Rangers International by five points but the 2023 title race would have been more painful, losing out on goal difference to Enyimba – who won their record 10th title – during the Super 6 in Lagos.
