When Victor Mbaoma stepped back onto the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) turf this season, Remo Stars knew they were welcoming not just a returning son, but a proven goalscorer with unfinished business.
Now in blistering form, the striker has quickly reminded the league why he once earned his move abroad, and why his comeback may be one of the Sky Blue Stars’ most important decisions of the campaign.
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In an exclusive conversation with PREMIUM TIMES, the forward reflected on his return to a league he helped illuminate before his departure, comparing the NPFL he left with the one he has now rejoined, while also assessing Remo Stars’ turbulent title defence.
The former APR FC man delivered another statement performance in Remo’s 2–0 win over Barau FC, scoring a sensational poacher’s goal from a half-chance; precisely the kind of ruthless, sharp-angled finish that defined his earlier NPFL rise.
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“It was not a bad game,” Mbaoma said, analysing the victory with measured confidence. “We approached it well because we know where we are and what is at stake. So, I think we did very well.”
His strike, instinctive, precise, and executed within a split second, was the day’s standout moment. But for Mbaoma, it was all about fundamentals.
“Actually, the most important thing for a striker is to hit those four frames, which is important,” he explained. “That was the most important thing on my mind, and to get my angle very right.
“So, I think that was what I did, and God on my side, I could hit it.”
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Returning to a new NPFL: What has changed?
Mbaoma left the NPFL as one of its elite forwards, earning national-team attention and a move abroad. The league he has returned to: crowded stands up north, largely sporadic down south, except in a few areas; epileptic broadcast structure; not too improved training surfaces, but growing tactical maturity. Not exactly the same.
“Yeah, of course, not too bad,” he said when asked if the league has improved. “But I think we can still do more.
“Because we are not where we need to be, but at least there are a lot of changes, which is very, very good for us.”
His assessment echoes a sentiment shared by many returning NPFL players: the league is evolving, even if the pace is still not where many would like it to be. Facilities have improved in pockets, match organisation is tightening, and more teams are investing in strategic recruitment.
And at Remo Stars, a club intent on becoming the standard, those changes feel even more deliberate.
The Champions’ struggle: “Teams come here to fight for everything”
Remo Stars entered this season as defending champions, carrying both expectation and a target on their backs. A turbulent start left fans questioning the team’s rhythm, but Mbaoma believes the challenge is a natural consequence of success.
“It is the game, you know. We won the league last season,” he said. “So, of course, you would expect that if anything comes here to play, they will do everything that they can to make sure that they get something out of here.
“So, for us, I think we are beginning to get our ass back and it’s a very positive thing for us right now.”
It’s a blunt, candid reflection, true to Mbaoma’s character and perfectly summarising Remo’s journey so far: ambition, pressure, adjustments, and now a resurgence.
A message to fans
Through the highs and lows, Remo Stars have leaned on a passionate fan base that has stayed loud even when the performances dipped. Mbaoma didn’t miss the opportunity to acknowledge them.
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“We love you guys,” he said, a short but heartfelt message to supporters navigating the same emotional ride.
For Remo Stars, the return of a razor-sharp Victor Mbaoma feels like a turning point. For the NPFL, his presence is another reminder that the league remains a proving ground for elite Nigerian talent.
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