The former Super Eagles coach alongside Evolution Cup project strategist, Olatoye Olawale was welcomed by Remo Stars coach, Daniel Ogunmodede to the full tour of the facilities including the pitch, VIP areas, players camp, and workout facility on Sunday.

“This is quite an edifice for a proper football team. Remo Stars is a team that should be competing for the NPFL title, as they have everything in place to succeed. I’m really impressed with everything in this stadium.

“Evolution Cup being hosted here is a great opportunity for the players to get used to good stadium.” Bonfrere said at the tour.

Remo Stars coach, Daniel Ogunmodede said it was an honor to finally meet the man who won Olympics Gold for Nigeria.

“It was an honor to finally meet the coach, who won Gold for Nigeria at the Olympics. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, and I really appreciate your visit.” Ogunmodede said.

Evolution Cup strategist, Olatoye Olawale revealed that things are now in place for the next Evolution Cup and a visit to the venue was a good plan made for the ambassador.

“We just unveiled Bonfrere Jo as the ambassador for Evolution Cup and this is a part of the whole process. He needed to visit the stadium used to host the tournament and here we are.

“Preparations are now in place for the next edition of Evolution Cup, which comes up in few months.” Olatoye said.

The next edition of Evolution Cup will come up in February 2023.

Remo Stars made history becoming the first team to win the Optima Energy Gold Cup title back-to-back and had goalkeeper Vincent Edafe to thank as he showed class during the penalty kicks after he made two saves.

The battle to claim the bragging rights lived up to its billing, as it was end-to-end football and fireworks from both teams.

The first real chance of the game came the way of the Oluyole Warriors in the 20th minute.

Samuel Stone muscled out two Remo Stars defenders to set up Tony Okachi who went past his marker to flick the ball into the box, leaving Edafe to push the ball awkwardly to the path of Joshua Akpan, but the attacking midfielder put his effort wide.

The Sky Blue Stars could have punished the Oluyole Warriors 12 minutes later after Samuel Anakwe dazzled past his markers but couldn’t off despite having goalkeeper Bamidele Adeniyi beat in goal.

Six minutes into the second half, Okorom Stanley’s superb strike at goal from a set piece was easily saved by Bamidele as he was sharp with his timing of the ball.

With 10 minutes to end the game, Bamidele made two saves in less than two minutes, from a low drive shot and corner kick to deny the Sky Blue Star.

With no winner in regulation time, both teams needed spot kicks to settle scores.

It was Remo Stars that had the day after scoring four while Edafe was outstanding after he stopped two spot kicks of Shooting Stars.

The victory had Remo Stars smiling home with One Million Naira and a beautiful gold-plated trophy while 3SC was rewarded with half a million Naira.

Shooting Stars will renew its rivalry with defending champions Remo Stars in the final of the 10th edition of the Optima Energy Gold Cup.

Recall in the last edition, the Sky Blue Stars mauled the Oluwole Warriors 4-0 to claim the trophy.

It’s a record for 3SC and Coach Gbenga Ogunbote, as both are making it to a third final of the preseason tournament after the Oluyole Warriors defeat Sunshine Stars by three goals to one.

3SC produced a five-star performance to claim the bragging rights over their southwest neighbours, Sunshine Stars.

The game was full of suspense and fireworks with end-to-end football that produced four goals, and two in each half.

Anthony Okachi should have made it 1-0 for the Oluyole Warriors in the earliest period of the South West derby after his long-range shoot-on target rattled the crossbar of the Owen Whales. Sunshine Stars had their half chances but was not enough to put them ahead.

Shooting Stars took the lead in the 20th minute after good attacking teamwork, which saw Abdallahi Hassan finding the back of the net from a rebound as Mustapha Lawal punches Stone Samuel’s effort away.

Sunshine Stars didn’t let the lead last and responded 22 minutes after, as Uzoechi Ejike made it 1-1 scoring from the spot kick after a 3SC defender was penalized for a handball in the box.

Okachi, who was a thorn in the flesh of the Owena Whale defenders, turned away from his marker to shoot the ball beyond the reach of Sunshine Stars’ goalkeeper and restored 3SC’s lead.

As Sunshine Stars pushed for the equalising goal to stretch the game to a penalty shootout, they got punished in added minutes of regulation time.

A needless foul on 3SC Promise Damala in the Owena Whales box, made the referee to award a penalty against them.

And Joshua Akpan converted the spot kick, thereby putting the icing on the cake and made it 3-1 for 3SC.

The goal is Akpan’s fifth of the Optima Energy Gold Cup, thus making him the top scorer.

The final of the pre – season tournament will take place on Saturday at the Remo Stars stadium in Ikenne.

Head Coach of Remo Stars Football Club (RSFC), Daniel Ogunmodede have dedicated the victory against Holy Arrows FC to the President of the club, Honourable Kunle Soname and his players.

The Sky Blue Stars got the deserved victory through Oyedele Adebayo after a headed home Yusuf Ibrahim’s cross in the 49th minute of the game.

Speaking with RSFC Media, he says the victory is dedicated to the President for his patience after investing a lot to the club.

“I dedicate the victory to the President of the club for his patience after investing some much into the club after the disappointing defeat in our first away game of the season, it’s not easy because I try to put myself in his shoes but as a professional coach, I understand that such happens in football. Very unimaginable but it has happened, so I give it to him.”

“I feel very happy for the boys for the ability to fight back after the last embarrassment in our last away game and the victory is dedicated to them also because they fought really hard in the very intense game.”

“I scouted Adebayo during the Covid-19 period in Lagos, I watched him play twice, and I am not surprised with the goal he scored today. His goal was well-timed, good anticipation and a wonderful technique.”

“He is a clinical player, maybe the most clinical of the attackers I have, he’s not that powerful, but he showed he really deserved to be in the line up. Our plan was just to retain the ball, contain the opponent and whenever the chance come, we take it. Eventually the chance came in the game, and he took it, that was why I had to put Adebayo upfront.”

It was another semi-final heartbreak for the Sky Blues Stars who qualified to the last four unbeaten in Group B, ahead top rated teams like Kwara United and defending champions Niger Tornadoes.

Yusuf Ibrahim will rue his penalty miss in the shoot out but for Ogunmodede, there was issue about the spot kicks as it was down to lock.

“No we didn’t lose to a better opponent, we were just unlucky against Gombe United but they’re not a bad side.

“The Gombe United goalie was for me lucky to have saved Ibrahim’s kick as he guessed right.

“I didn’t think we got our tactics wrong, in fact the game against Gombe United was our best so far in the tourney and some of the new players did prove themselves in the games we played against the top teams. 

“Though we were hopeful we could qualify to the final but that’s not to be today, however we take the positive from the tourney. 

“Sad we didn’t score from open play as we kept to our game plan. A goal from my team would have changed the dynamics of the game.”