Kunle Soname is a name synonymous with ambition, transformation, and resilience in Nigerian football. Over the years, he has evolved from a grassroots politician to one of Africa’s most influential football administrators, building a sports empire that spans across Nigeria and Europe.
Kunle Soname runs his clubs with a hybrid model of private-sector discipline and community involvement. Key features of his approach include: Infrastructure-first strategy: Building facilities before pushing for silverware. Professional staffing: Hiring educated and experienced football professionals. Youth development pipeline: Emphasizing academy structure over short-term player purchases. Data and analytics: Using modern scouting and performance-tracking tools. Welfare and culture: Creating an environment where players feel valued and motivated. This level of organization, often lacking in Nigerian football, has set his clubs apart and made Remo Stars a model for others to emulate.
Founded in 2004 as FC Dender, Kunle Soname relocated the club from Lagos to his hometown of Ikenne-Remo in Ogun State and rebranded it as Remo Stars FC. His vision was clear, to create a community-rooted club that would one day challenge Nigeria’s best. For years, Remo Stars teetered on the edges of success. The club gained promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL but often found itself battling relegation or finishing mid-table. In 2021 and 2023, Remo Stars came painfully close to winning the NPFL title, finishing second and third, respectively, a testament to the growing consistency under Soname’s watch. His commitment was not just financial but deeply structural. Soname invested heavily in infrastructure, building one of Nigeria’s best privately owned stadiums, the Remo Stars Stadium, with accompanying training facilities, medical units, and high-performance departments. He also implemented a professional structure by hiring competent coaches, analysts, and administrative staff, rare in Nigerian club football. In 2025, after over a decade of steady growth, Remo Stars FC finally clinched their first-ever NPFL title, beating long-established clubs like Enyimba, Rangers International and Rivers United. The victory was more than a trophy, it was a validation of Soname’s long-term vision for Nigerian football.
To ensure sustainability, Kunle Soname founded Beyond Limits Football Academy in 2022, not just as a youth academy, but as a fully operational football club competing in the Nigerian second tier, NNL. Beyond Limits serves as the developmental wing of Remo Stars, providing a direct path for young talents into professional football. With top-tier facilities, qualified youth coaches, and exposure to international competitions, the academy has quickly become a talent factory. Several graduates have already progressed to Remo Stars’ senior team and attracted attention from European scouts.
Kunle Soname also oversees ValueJet FC, a club competing in Nigeria’s lower divisions. While not as high-profile as Remo Stars, ValueJet FC operates as part of Soname’s broader football network, providing additional game time and development for players not yet ready for top-flight football. The club is linked with the airline ValueJet, another of his companies.
In 2015, Kunle Soname made headlines by acquiring a 70% stake in CD Feirense, a Portuguese club playing in Liga Portugal 2 (the second tier). This bold move made him the first Nigerian to own a European football club. The acquisition was strategic: to create a direct link for Nigerian and African players to transition into European football in a regulated, transparent way. Feirense has since seen a regular influx of talent from Nigeria, particularly from Remo Stars and Beyond Limits. Soname’s involvement has also improved the club’s visibility and commercial potential. With technical staff exchanges and dual training programs, the bridge between Ikenne and Santa Maria da Feira is now a well-trodden path.
Before football, Kunle Soname built a solid political foundation, serving as Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council in Lagos from 2003 to 2011. His entry into the business world peaked with the launch of Bet9ja, Nigeria’s largest online sports betting platform, in 2013. Under his leadership as Chairman, Bet9ja became a household name and a major sponsor of sports and entertainment in Nigeria, including Big Brother Naija. In 2022, Soname expanded his empire into aviation, launching ValueJet Airlines, a Nigerian domestic carrier aimed at offering affordable travel with top safety standards.
In 2023, he was honored with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) for his immense contributions to youth development and sports. He was also inducted as a patron of the KB Klub at the University of Lagos, reflecting his deep commitment to community upliftment and mentorship. Kunle Soname is married to Kemi Soname, and they have a daughter, Erioluwa. Despite his growing global influence, he remains rooted in his hometown of Ikenne, where his football dream first took shape.
Kunle Soname’s model is redefining what is possible in African sports management. By combining local passion with global best practices, he has created a sustainable football ecosystem, one that doesn’t just win trophies but builds lives. In a country often plagued with underinvestment in sports, his story stands out as a blueprint for success, vision, and patriotism.
By Benprince Ezeh
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