BY YOMI OPAKUNLE

Enigmatic Kunle Soname and his Remo Stars FC (a privately owned football club) most recently won the 2024/25 season’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Cup.

 It is the first club from Ogun State to win Nigeria’s Premier League, since creation of the State and in so doing lifting the erstwhile sleepy town of Ikenne from where revered late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo SAN hailed from just like himself,  to global recognition for the greatest sport on earth – football – Ikenne gone global, if you ask me. Yes o, the euphoria of this victory has been deservedly very loud. But beyond the victory are several lessons of visionary sure-footedness by Soname, worth scrutinising and emulating, for replication nationwide.

‘Little by little, said a thoughtful lad; Moment by moment, I shall improve…‘ (Source: Anonymous)

The real deal is the various lessons of success nuggets practically demonstrated by my dear brother, Hon. Kunle Soname, the proprietor in this ‘long’ journey to well-earned victory…

■ Remo Stars did not suddenly or accidentally become NPFL Champions. The club was third three seasons ago and second two seasons ago as well as second again last season! – lessons of painstaking hard work and focus on the club’s vision as consciously envisioned by Hon. Soname.

■ Same Remo Stars, since its establishment, had achieved promotion to the NPFL more than twice and been relegated to the lower league twice, only to bounce back to the NPFL diadem eventually! – lessons of never say die spirit & eyes on the ball, no matter how long, i.e. ‘Never admit failure, until you’ve made your last attempt; but Never your last attempt, until you’ve succeeded.’ So, keep on trying to try….

■ The club started by hiring infrastructure at home in Ogun State, but now owns massive global-standard infrastructure in the state! Lessons of ‘from little seeds grow big Oak trees’ & little beginnings should never be a barrier to great achievements.

■ 1 Club at start, 3 clubs now (Remo Stars Ladies inclusive)! Lessons in incremental growth, & prudent reinvestment strategy laced with focused patience.

■ ‘Unsung/unassuming’ hardworking, focused Chief Coach handling the club for some years now – Ogumodede, deservedly getting national recognition via appointment as one of the Assistant Coaches of our premium national team, the Super Eagles.

No be mistake o! Lessons of faith and belief of Hon. Soname in the talents/abilities/potentials of his coach, trusting that giving him time would lead to a glorious tomorrow that has become today.

Soname had watched from close quarters the potential in Ogunmodede as Assistant Coach to a couple of past Chief Coaches of the team and decidedly allowed him to be in full charge as the Chief Coach about five years ago. See what his unshaken faith in the talents of the young man has crystallised to…

■ Unshaken belief in the youth! Just check the average age of his players  – he even has an academy (Beyond Limits) that is doing well in the immediate lower Nigeria Pro League and deliberately structured to serve as a feeder team to Remo Stars – intentionality & deliberateness

■ Sustainability/Financial capability! Unlike many previous privately owned clubs which get financially challenged as time gets by, Proprietor who deliberately rather than luckily owns Bet 9ja, must have dedicated a reasonable percentage of ROI from Bet Naija/proceeds from some player transfers/other businesses (including a Portuguese second division team he is the majority owner of) to the pursuit of his well thought out sports business vision, not expecting immediate returns but assured of a certain successful tomorrow that has come to fore.

Lessons: Financial intelligence + continuous search for knowledge/self-development, with a team of workforce he invests in their development and gives opportunity to flourish, if they can.

■ Street Wise Soname!

Unknown to many, Soname became streetwise early in life and was even a time-time Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA (very grassroots of public service governance), becoming a huge success.

Believe me, he was even ready to integrate this his ‘now coming to fruition’ vision, into his home State vision to impact more people statewide (provided a PPP model allowing the vision to blossom was agreeable to the government) back then.

He was even ready to accept the Vice Chairmanship of State-owned Gateway FC back in time in 2011 to jumpstart the dream, but in the wisdom of the then Governor, there would be a conflict of interest, he noted, and so he didn’t approve. I know, because I was SA at the Ministry of Youth & Sports back then and was involved.

By then, now blossoming Bet9ja hadn’t even come to the public scene for him, but he trudged on surefootedly with great determination and today, the rest is history. Lessons: Nigeria is full of God’s special blessings, and once we continue to seek His special grace and painstakingly remain focused, hardworking but patiently wait for His blessings, our dreams can come true..

Conclusively, this is to salute/celebrate Hon. Kunle Soname, my dear brother and President of Remo Stars Group, who is a whole lesson in successful ‘sportstrepreneurship’, for this hugely and fittingly deserving achievement, divinely thrust on him on his 59th birthday.

Congratulations to Soname (+ his entire group) & toast-toast. 🥂

YOMI OPAKUNLE, a veteran sports journalist, writes in from Ifako-Gbagada Lagos.

Nigeria’s elite league’s 2020/21 champions have been relegated as the curtain fell on the 2024/25 season on Sunday.

The relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League was confirmed following an away 2-1 loss to fellow relegation side, Heartland of Owerri.

It is the second time since 2009 that the club will be relegated. The club regretted the drop and issued a statement apologising on the X platform to its fans.

“Following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, we wish to express our disappointment and apologize to everyone associated with our club over our inability to retain our league status for top-flight football next season.” 

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Even before the last match day on Sunday, the top three for continental assignments were already known. But the expected drama was at the backwaters, where the battle against relegation was the highlight.

With the title already won, Remo Stars had little to fight for as they were inflicted with their worst defeat of the season, losing 3-0 to Bayelsa United.

Shooting Stars also beat their age-long rivals, Enugu Rangers, 5-1 in what was a face-saving battle.

Elsewhere, Rivers United narrowed the gap with league champions, Remo Stars after defeating Nasarawa United 2-1. Niger Tornadoes also beat Kano Pillars 3-2.

Relegated Lobi Stars made one last dance in the elite league by defeating Bendel Insurance 2-1.

President Federation Cup continental ticket-seeking Kwara United lost 1-0 to Katsina United in their last league match of the season.

What was initially to be a Confederation Cup ticket decider, a battle of Ikorodu City and Abia Warriors in Lagos was all the same fiercely contested.

Ikorodu City won 3-2. But for losing to Remo Stars three weeks ago, the defeat of Abia Warriors would have yielded dividends to Ikorodu City who ended fourth on the log.

Sunshine Stars’ miserable season ended with a 2-1 home loss to Niger Tornadoes.

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