‘We don’t play politics but football at Beyond Limits’ – coach Olumide Ajibolade

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Olumide Ajibolade, the head coach of newly promoted Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Beyond Limits, attributes the team’s recent success to hard work on the field.

Ajibolade led the Ikenne-based team to top-flight promotion at the end of the 2024 Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 in Enugu, where they also emerged as the 2023/2024 NNL champions ahead of Nasarawa United.

Ajibolade emphasized that the key to their success lies in their commitment and investment in football, urging other clubs in the country to follow their model, stressing the importance of investing in infrastructure, facilities, and coaching education to achieve sustainable results.

“We are very happy because NPFL is the top of the top because that’s where the big boys play. For us to get the ticket to go there is a testament to the work we have done this season,” Ajibolade stated.

“I don’t think it’s by luck, I think we are here because of the commitment and investment that we have put into our football. There is no shortcut to success. You have to be intentional about it, and we are bearing the fruits of that investment.

“To every team, trying to win a match is not a success. If you want sustainable success, invest in infrastructure, facilities, and coaching education. That’s how you get sustained results.

“We don’t play politics, we play football, and the football only comes from investment from the people that we put in the job, monies that we spend on the trips and everything that we do.

“Every club should look at the model that we are trying to create and try to do something of the scale. Eventually, when we have ten to fifteen clubs like this, Nigeria will be a force in the world.”

Beyond Limits Football Academy will play top-flight football next season alongside Remo Stars at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

This marks the first time that two privately owned clubs by the same owner, with different management, will play in the NPFL. They secured promotion alongside Nasarawa United, Ikorodu City, and El-Kanemi Warriors.