Sporting Lagos manager Jeffery Buter believes his team’s unbeaten triumph at the Value Jet pre-season tournament in Ikenne has given them an important boost before returning to the NPFL.
The promoted club defeated several teams with league and continental experience, among them champions Remo Stars, Abia Warriors, Rivers United and Shooting Stars.
Buter described the achievement of facing and overcoming such opponents as a major step for Sporting Lagos, while indicating that the club’s main focus would be developing its current players rather than pursuing unnecessary late signings.
He said the team’s ability to compete strongly against those sides and ultimately lift the trophy represented a significant achievement.
During the tournament, Sporting Lagos met Remo Stars twice and also played Abia Warriors on two occasions, in addition to matches against Rivers United and Shooting Stars, without suffering defeat.
The coach feels that holding their own against the reigning champions and clubs involved in continental football demonstrates that Sporting Lagos can be competitive in the NPFL as well.
Buter added that victories over champions and continental representatives show his players are capable of matching those opponents when the league begins.
However, the positive pre-season results have not convinced the coach that the work is complete.
He said the next objective was to build on the progress made over the previous week by improving the squad’s technical and tactical qualities, expressing confidence that the team would be ready.
With the start of the new campaign now fewer than two weeks away, Buter indicated that Sporting Lagos could turn its attention to strengthening the group already in place rather than making additions simply for the sake of it.
He acknowledged that the club would remain open to an outstanding opportunity if a player clearly better than those already available emerged. Buter said the team had benefited from several quality additions and could now continue enhancing its present squad instead of searching elsewhere so close to the season’s start.
Sporting Lagos begin their NPFL schedule with an away fixture against Doma United in Gombe.
