Kayode Bankole, Tremendous Eagles goalkeeper and former Remo Stars shot-stopper, says his transfer to South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) was much less about chasing a brand new journey and extra about recognising the best second to shut a profitable chapter at house.
In an unique interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the goalkeeper mirrored on a journey that took him from the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNL) to the summit of the Nigeria Premier Soccer League (NPFL) with Remo Stars, an increase he describes as full and satisfying.
After serving to the Ikenne-based membership safe third place, then back-to-back runners-up finishes, and at last the NPFL title, Bankole stated he knew he had reached the pure finish of his Remo Stars story.
“The primary season we got here third, the second season second, then second once more. This time, we received the league. I felt like there was nothing once more to purpose for. It was time to depart the NPFL,” he stated.
His departure, he added, was all the time going to take him exterior the home league, it doesn’t matter what choices appeared regionally.
“I knew if I would depart Remo Stars, I’m not going to depart to any Nigerian membership once more. The place it might be, I didn’t know, however not NPFL.”
Bankole’s choice coincided with a shocking nationwide crew call-up — one which got here in a season the place he barely featured for Remo Stars. For a participant who had beforehand earned popularity of consistency and standout performances, the timing felt each ironic and revealing.
“Final season, I wasn’t even taking part in, however that’s after I bought the nationwide crew call-up. I return all of the glory to God.”
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His eventual transfer to TS Galaxy was not completely sudden. The PSL membership had proven curiosity two seasons earlier, expressing willingness to attend for the best second. When the decision lastly got here once more, Bankole stated it felt nearly too informal to take severely — till he realised they meant each phrase.
“They didn’t care whether or not I used to be taking part in or not. They saved their phrase. That’s after I knew, this was actual.”
Bankole now joins a rising checklist of Nigerian gamers discovering alternatives within the PSL, a league that’s more and more enticing because of its construction, visibility, and stability. For him, the switch represents each a reward for years of dedication and a reminder that soccer careers typically activate timing relatively than speedy kind.
As he settles into life at TS Galaxy, the 23-year-old says his journey stands as proof that persistence, preparation, and conviction nonetheless matter in a soccer panorama the place motion is usually pushed by urgency relatively than readability.
