In the heart of southwestern Nigeria, a football revolution was patiently brewing in the town of Ikenne, Ogun State. For over two decades, the Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL was dominated by government-funded clubs, leaving privately run outfits struggling to find a foothold, let alone secure a league title. But in the 2024/2025 NPFL season, Remo Stars Football Club shattered a 25-year-old jinx by becoming the first privately owned club to win the Nigerian league title since Julius Berger’s triumph in the year 2000.
This was no ordinary victory. It was a tale of vision, patience, consistency, and an unwavering belief in building from the ground up.
Remo Stars was founded in 2004 by Kunle Soname, a sports enthusiast, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, who envisioned a football club that would not only compete but redefine professionalism in Nigerian football. Originally established as F.C. DENDER in Lagos, the club relocated to Ikenne, Ogun State, and was rebranded as Remo Stars in alignment with Soname’s native roots in Remoland.
From inception, Soname’s ambition was clear, he wasn’t building a team just for matchday glory but a club system that would endure, develop young talent, and represent Nigeria’s best football ideals.
By investing heavily in infrastructure, Remo Stars built the first privately-owned stadium with European-level facilities, the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne. With state-of-the-art pitches, modern dressing rooms, a functioning football academy, and proper administrative structures, the club laid a solid foundation for future dominance.
Despite all these efforts, one challenge that often hindered Remo Stars from winning the league in previous years was their policy of selling their best players. The club has consistently transferred some of their top talents to foreign clubs for financial sustainability. This trend, while understandable from a business standpoint, frequently disrupted team chemistry and progress. As recently as January, they lost their best player to a Sudanese Club, a move that raised eyebrows and tested the team’s resolve during the title run-in.
For years, Remo Stars danced around the edges of Nigeria’s football elite. Promotions to the NPFL came with relegations, and criticisms loomed large about whether the project would yield lasting results. Yet, the management remained patient, investing consistently in their youth setup, scouting programs, and player welfare.
A turning point came in the 2020s when Remo Stars began to solidify their presence in the top flight. They developed a reputation for neat, progressive football, one built around youthful energy and tactical discipline. But silverware still eluded them.
The appointment of veteran tactician Gbenga Ogunbote proved to be a masterstroke. Known in Nigerian football circles as “The Oracle,” Ogunbote brought stability, experience, and belief. What set his reign apart was his deep trust in the club’s academy system.
In a league where short-termism often trumps development, Ogunbote did the unusual: he promoted several players from the club’s youth team, Beyond Limits Football Academy, into the first team. Names like Hamzat Ojediran, Mayowa Adesina, and Ifeanyi Bello, once unknown, became household names across the NPFL.
He didn’t just promote them, he trusted them with big games, big moments, and tactical responsibilities. His coaching philosophy aligned perfectly with the club’s vision: patient growth, tactical intelligence, and resilience.
From the onset of the 2024/2025 season, Remo Stars looked different, confident, tactically sharp, and mentally strong. They went toe-to-toe with seasoned government-backed sides like Enyimba, Rivers United, and Plateau United, refusing to be bullied or overawed.
Their campaign was defined by consistency and structure. Home games at Ikenne became a fortress, and their away form was the best in the league. Ogunbote’s side scored the most goals in open play and conceded the fewest, thanks to a blend of experienced hands like Seun Ogunmodede and the youthful vibrancy of academy graduates.
A pivotal moment came in the second half of the season when they defeated Enyimba away in Aba, a result that turned doubters into believers. The final stretch of the season saw Remo Stars holding off late pressure from Rivers United and Lobi Stars, before clinching the title on the final day with a 2-1 win over Katsina United.
The triumph was more than just a league title; it was a validation of vision, discipline, and the power of structure. For Nigerian football, Remo Stars’ title win marks a paradigm shift, proof that privately-owned clubs, when properly run, can compete and win at the highest level.
It also throws light on the need for strategic planning, investment in grassroots football, and continuity in coaching. Coach Ogunbote’s integration of the academy into the senior team shows a sustainable model that other clubs can emulate.
Beyond the league, Remo Stars now look forward to representing Nigeria in continental competitions, with plans already underway to strengthen the team and provide valuable exposure to their young talents.
The story of Remo Stars is the story of belief, in structure over shortcuts, in youth over imports, and in vision over volatility. They didn’t buy success; they built it brick by brick, over two decades of consistency.
Their 2025 NPFL title is not just a trophy, it is a legacy.
–Benprince Ezeh
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