Remo Stars Head Coach Daniel Ogunmodede has just been named the League Bloggers Awards (LBA) Coach of the Season.
The award is a recognition of his input to Remo Stars in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2022-2023. Ogunmodede led Remo Stars to qualify for the CAF Champions League.
Ogunmodede is no new name to Nigerian football. The 43-year-old Remo Stars manager may not have been around the league circles for long, but he's made a massive splash.
An all-time best season for @RemoStarsSC in the NPFL
The man behind that success – @CoachDan_Ijabal – is named the #NPFL23 Coach of the Season #LBANPFL23 🧠pic.twitter.com/rOLEJGGViE
— The League Bloggers Awards (@theOfficialLBA) August 22, 2023
Heads are turning, and people are beginning to take notice of the young manager set to do mighty things with the Ikenne-based side.
There are not many accolades to his name, but Daniel Ogunmodede is attracting recognition with the high-rising Remo Stars for their style of play.
The trophies will come as the Sky Blues, under his tutelage, keep knocking on the doors of titles and challenging the big names in the NPFL.
Daniel Ogunmodede leads Remo Stars to the continent
It's about a year since Daniel Ogunmodede returned to take over the helm at Remo Stars. The astute manager who fancies an attacking brand of football was away at CD Feirense in Portugal for a year, returned to take over from Gbenga ‘Oracle's Ogunbote.
The abridged Nigeria Professional Football League saw Remo Stars in the same group as Bendel Insurance, Enyimba, Akwa United, Plateau United and Shooting Stars. The other teams in the group include Gombe United, Kwara United, Nasarawa United and El Kanemi Warriors.
The Sky Blues finished second in the group behind Bendel Insurance and ahead of Enyimba. It was enough to secure them a place in the NPFL Super Six.
Remo Stars lost only three games all season – a record only bettered by Bendel Insurance.
At the NPFL Super Six, Daniel Ogunmodede led Remo Stars on an unbeaten run that saw them finish second behind Enyimba to book a CAF Champions League ticket.
Daniel Ogunmodede also led the Sky Blues to a second-place finish at the inaugural end-of-season tournament – Naija Super Eight. Remo Stars lost the final to Sporting Lagos on penalties.
Daniel Ogunmodede claims Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp inspired his coaching philosophy.
As Pep is to tiki-taka, Mourinho is to counter-attack and Klopp to heavy metal, Ogunmodede has mixed all these elements with his to come up with ‘Ijaball'.
What is the Nigeria League Bloggers Award (LBA)?
The League Bloggers Award started in 2009 and has been celebrating the top-performing players in the top flight.
The award has grown in stature and become recognised and accepted by followers on the NPFL.
League Bloggers Award NPFL player of the month of January nominees.
Joseph Atule – Lobi Stars
Onyebuchi Ifeanyi – Plateau United
Amas Obasogie – Bendel Insurance
Imade Osarenkhoe – Bendel Insurance
Ismael Sarki – BendelInsurance
Kumaga Suur – Lobi StarsWho is winning this? pic.twitter.com/70TDkgTtmX
— Leagues Reporter (@LeaguesReporter) January 31, 2023
Several big names have been winners of the various awards on offer. The 2023 awards ceremony was on August 22 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos, with 11 main categories of awards handed out.
Daniel Ogunmodede was in contention for the Coach of the Season award with NPFL-winning coach – Finidi George and Bendel Insurance coach- Monday Odigie.
Odigie led Insurance to a record-breaking unbeaten run of 21 games and won the Federation Cup.
However, Daniel Ogunmodede beat the other two managers to the award.
In other awards presented, Robert-Mizo Christian (Bayelsa United) won the Rookie of the Season award.
Umar Bala of Plateau United was named the Young Player of the Season, while the Best Foreign Player award went to Rivers United Liberian import Albert Korvah.
The other award winners
🚨Emeka Obioma is nearing a move to Esperance Tunis from Enyimba.
Understand the striker will arrive Tunisia today to conclude further details of the move.
He was the highest goalscorer in #NPFL23
More to follow….#NPFLTransferWithMike pic.twitter.com/asRohT4vV8
— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) July 21, 2023
- Bankole Kayode (Remo Stars) – NPFL 2023 Goalkeeper of the Season.
- Nduka Junior (Remo Stars) – Defender of the Season
- Joseph Atule (Lobi Stars/Enyimba) – Midfielder of the Season
- Emeka Obioma (Enyimba) – Sttiker of the season
- Edo State govt – Best Government Sponsorship
- Sterling Bank – Brand Sponsorship of Team for their level of investment in Bendel Insurance
- Emeka Obioma (Enyimba) – Player of the season
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 months ago
