"Our objective is always to compete", Beyond Limits coach speak ahead of Optima Energy Gold Cup final

 

Head Coach of Beyond Limits Academy, Ajibolade Olumide has said that retaining the Optima Energy Gold Cup against Shooting Stars in the final will be a bonus to his side, as his lads are ready to to learn, compete against the best.

Both teams clash in Saturday's finale of the 12th edition of the nation's off-season football tournament billed for the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State. 

His thoughts ahead of the tantalizing clash after Beyond Limits edged FC Ebedei in the first semis on Thursday. 

"The objective is to learn and compete, Shooting Stars should give us a good game for the boys to take the lessons. We're happy. 

"I've never gone to a tournament thinking I have to win, it's never in the back of my mind, and of course people say that's a lie because we win everything. 

"Our objective is always to compete, and if we win, it's a bonus. We have to ensure the lads play well and improve, and if we win again on Saturday, it's just another trophy, and we're happy for that."

On the tough and close game against FC Ebedei, "I don't think our semi-final game was difficult just because we won with a one goal margin, however the opposition was very physical, a lot duels and intensity pressing, organization with bodies behind the ball. 

"And off course, we expected that when we know, as no team wants us to have space behind, so we keep probing trying to find the options to play around them and eventually we get a break through. 

"By and large I think the organization from FC Ebedei was good but we were not just able to have in our one by one, may be it's preseason, so we have a lot to work on. 

"Nothing different from what we actually do, it's preseason so we would then compete and hopefully we'll be able to field a lot more players, so they can get the needed minutes as they prepare for other competitions that's ahead of us. So nothing special, just our normal approach of excellence."

Evolution Cup attracts top UK licensed football agents

The duo of Lindi Ngwenya and Anthony Verrill from United Kingdom will be on ground for the NLO invitational pre-season tournament, Evolution Cup which runs from February 21 to 26 at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne.

Lindi and Anthony who are both top football agents would have the opportunity to scout for talented footballers that would feature for the 10 NLO teams participating in the competiton.

Olatoye Olawale, the Project Strategist, while reacting to the development revealed that the decision to attract top football agents is to leverage on the  platform to further market Nigerian players to the world. 

"The need for us to invite these agents is a product of our research which indicates that NLO teams house talented and impressive players- It would be a disservice on our part if these players doesn't get to exposed themselves to this kind of life-changing opportunity" he said.

Olatoye believes that the players would make good impression on the agents who have impeccable track records in creating opportunities for players across the world.

Evolution Cup is sponsored by Alphakay International Sport and packaged by Sportsflames Communication.

Organisers announce date for Evolution Cup draws

The draw for the maiden edition of Evolution Cup will be held at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne on Saturday, 5 February, 2022, the organizers announced. 

Evolution Cup 2022, which is scheduled to take place from 21 February to 26 February at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne will see Nationwide League (NLO) teams battle in a preseason tournament ahead of the new season. 

“We are ready for the draw on Saturday and I believe the teams can’t wait to see their pairings too. It will go down at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, which is also the venue for the tournament. 

“We want to use this tournament as a platform to make good preparations for NLO teams going into the new season”. Project strategist, Olatoye Olawale said. 

The draw is expected to start by 2pm on Saturday, 5th of February, 2022 with teams representative and other stakeholders in attendance.

The tournament, sponsored by Alphakay International Sports and Packaged by Sportflames communication will feature Abraysports FC, Right 2 Win FC, Olansile FC, Hammola International FC and Beyond Limits FC.

Other teams that would be rolling out their aces for the 5-day soccer fiesta are Rolly FC, Magic Stars FC, Olukismet FC, Ilaji FC and SGFC Athletics .

Remo Stars train players, officials on on Sports Psychology

Remo Stars Football Club (RSFC) today held a seminar on the importance of Sports Psychology for the players as they prepare for the 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The meeting held at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State had in attendance players and officials of the club as as they were taken through the course by seasoned psychologist, Coach Kehinde Adeyemi who is a Football Psychologist and Director of Sports at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

Coach Adeyemi disclosed that the seminar was focused on how different aspects of competition affect a player or team’s overall mental health, while the well-being of the athlete is also the ultimate aim.

He also notified that Sports Psychology promotes mental toughness to optimize athletes' achievement in every of their day to day sporting activities.

Speaking with RSFC Media, Kehinde Adeyemi noted that there are two basic trainings a player must undergo before they perform at their best, which are physical and mental trainings.

“The Coaches handle the physical trainings while the mental training is handled by the psychologist and you cannot see the best of these players unless they are physically and mentally ready.”

“Even when you have a player that is ninety percent ready, and not mentally ready, you cannot see the best of this player. That's to tell you that most of the Nigerian players are still in Nigeria not because they are not good enough but it's basically because they aren't ready mentally.”

“You don't see the best of these players until they get to Europe because majority of them are not mentally stable, they only go to the field to showcase their physical readiness and it usually doesn't bring out their best.”

“The truth is that we are yet to see the best of Remo Stars' players, we will work more on their psyche in ensuring that they bring out their best on and off the field and I am very confident that we will see the best of these players once the season commences.” Kehinde Adeyemi.

Captain of Remo Stars, Nduka Junior appreciated the Psychologist, the Management and the Coaches for bringing up a seminar of that kind which would help the players know more about Sports Psychology.