By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos
An English Football Association trained football psychologist, Kehinde Adeyemi has congratulated the Chairman of Remo Stars, Kunle Soname and the manager of the team Gbenga Ogunbote for picking up the CAF Confederation Cup ticket to represent Nigeria at the end of 2022 NPFL season.
The psychologist who doubles as the Director of Sports at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State also offered useful counsel to the team ahead CAFC in a congratulatory letter that he sent to the club and made available to newsmen.
The expert highlighted some factors that he claimed were always responsible for the often dismal performance of Nigerian club sides in the continental championships, urging Remo Stars’ management to guide against such things while counseling them from his psychological point of view.
Adeyemi advised Remo to beef up the team with two or three players in certain areas and should also consider playing a couple of international friendly matches if possible, adding that adequate mental training counts at this level while players and officials’ welfare must be prioritized.
“Interestingly, during my first mental training with the team during pre-season, I prepared the team for three possible achievements which are: one, that the team even as a newcomer can win the title or pick up a CAF ticket. Two that the team can produce the highest goal scorer in the league, though, Okpe placed 6th with 13 goals behind Akuneto of Rivers United with 19 goals.
“We can understand why he finished this way. Three; that the team can produce the best goalkeeper/defense in the league. Remo has the second-best goal against of 26 behind Rivers United’s 24 goals to show the strength of the team defense.
“Having said that, I’ll also advise that football politics at a minimal level can also be helpful, as I wish the team a good outing in their first continental assignment”, said the only English FA trained football psychologist in the country.
