Inter Lagos FC’s assistant coach, Oluwaseun Yusuf Savage has posited that seeing his team defeat their local rivals, Sporting Lagos on the last day of the Nigerian National League (NNL) Super-4 in Ikenne was like winning the competition’s top prize itself.
Sports247 reports that the 1-0 victory for Inter Lagos at Remo Stars Stadium drew them level on six points with Sporting Lagos, who then snatched top spot on goals difference, but Savage said getting silver medals was also a huge consolation for his side.
The assistant gaffer told Sports247, “I feel very great with the outcome of the last game. Defeating Sporting was like winning the ultimate prize.
“The performance of the boys in the last game gave everyone joy, especially as it was a derby match and we wanted to make a statement.
“In fact, for the past 3-4 years of playing against them, we have never lost to Sporting Lagos. That was the spirit our boys took into that final game.
“They told themselves, ‘If we can’t win the prize, we must at least win this game for pride and bragging rights.’ That’s what they did, and we were all happy at the end of the game.”
Savage then spoke about the next line of action for the squad, which he said is to go on break for a while, in order to recharge, then storm back fully ahead of their first campaign in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
“Our next target is to take a break for rest, so that we can reset and then start preparations for the ‘Big Stage,’ as we are new to the NPFL.
“Our club chairman, Lanre Vigo has already hosted us. He did that the week we got our promotion ticket. He hosted the technical crew and players at Cabin in Surulere, where our promotion was celebrated.
“With his support and determination from all the players, I know we will go into the NPFL with our high standard still in place. Just like what we did in the NNL, we are going to bring good football into our style when we play each match in the NPFL next season,” Savage enthused.
