Naija Super 8, Insight to Expectations in NPL, Says Sporting Lagos Coach

Kunle Adewale

Newly promoted Sporting Lagos last Sunday emerged winners of the maiden edition of the Naija Super 8 beating high riding Remo Stars of Ikenne, 4-2 after the encounter ended 1-1 at regulation time.

Beyond winning the competition however, head coach of the Lagos side, Paul Offor, has stated that participating in the Naija Super 8 has given his side an insight of what to expect in the Nigeria Premier League, NPL, when the new season kicks off. In a chat with THISDAY after Sporting Lagos victory over Remo Stars, Offor said: “To emerge as champions today is something very special for us because this is the first season, we are gaining promotion and it also the first time we’ll be winning a trophy as a club, and it’s a massive one. Remo Stars made it very difficult for us with their quality and showed us what the NPL is going to be like. It’s a good lesson for us how we defended in the last 20 minutes of the game, how we suffered off the ball and how they punished us. It’s something we have to learn from and ensure that we are able to finish games stronger than we did today (Sunday) “

Considering the massive support Sporting Lagos enjoyed during the Naija Super 8, most especially in the final against Remo Stars, as Lagosians now see them as a club they could associate with, Offor is optimistic the club could enjoy the same kind of atmosphere and ambiance when the league kicks off.

“ What I saw today was massive. Moments in the game I just stand and look at the crowd and it was amazing. The organisers of the competition should be proud of themselves. That they were able to put this kind of competition together and attracted such a huge number of fans back to the stadium. We saw the passion Nigerians have for our local football and we hope it would continue like that when the new season starts. This is how a Stadium atmosphere should look like and we love it. The players love it, the coaches love and even the fans love it. I believe the new league season is going to be better than this, “ Offor noted.

Continuing, he said,” what the crowd at the stadium has done for us today is and throughout the season is to help us to be able to help us confidently play our brand of football in front of them. It does not matter whether they are cheering or booing us. Whichever way we are going to stand tall.

On what winning the Naija Super 8 meant to the confidence of his team ahead of the new season considering that all the teams they defeated are some of the teams they battle with in the NPL. “ Its good for us that we were able to end the season like this. It is a big boost for the team, but I still see it as a Pre-season tournament and am not getting carried away. We can celebrate today but tomorrow I have to drum it into their ears that we are not champions of the NPL. We are just new comers and we need to stay focused, humble and be ready to work and start the season like we finished it.