Coach Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars has said the Sky Blues are not yet ready for the CAF Champions League they qualified on the strength of coming second in the recently concluded 2022/2023 Nigerian Premier League (NPL).
It will be recalled that Remo Stars finished second behind Enyimba in the recently ended NPL Super 6 playoff at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, while the then champions going into the Super 6 mini-league, Rivers United, ended in third place.
However, speaking to select journalists at the ongoing Naija Super 8 competition at the same Mobolaji Johnson Arena, the coach said he was not sure Remo Stars are fully ready for the premier African club competition given the demand of top-level performance required for a team to do well in the competition.
The coach spoke moments after they overcame Enyimba 2-1 in the opening match of the ongoing Naija Super 8, initially saying they took their grudge against the Peoples Elephants for denying them the NPL title at the Super 6.
He however showered encomiums on reigning Nigerian champions, saying they (Remo Stars) are also learning from the former African champions in terms of continental experience.
“We took our grudge against Enyimba for denying us the chance to win the league few weeks ago.
“We came here to measure ourselves against Enyimba and to prepare for the champions league because they are the top side and very experienced in the champions league.
“They are our father in the champions league and a highly top side so we play to measure up to them and I thank my players for living up to it.”
On the champions league which they would be participating alongside the reigning Nigerian champions, the coach said the team is not yet ready, pointing out that there were still some grey areas to be addressed.
“I can’t say that we are ready; we are not yet ready although the boys are playing good.
“There are still some areas we need to address and I can tell you that two of our strikers will be joining foreign club very soon as the negotiations are already at advanced stage.
“We have Isaac James but we need to get one or two strikers to back him up and do one or two things in the team to be fully ready.
“For now, we are still working on the team but we are gradually getting there,” he said.
