Offor hails Sporting gamers after derby win

Sporting Lagos coach Paul Offor was full of praises for his players following their commanding display in the 4-1 win over southwest rivals Remo Stars in a match-day 24 Nigeria Premier Football League game played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Sunday, According Sports Extra reports.

Former Remo Stars players in the ranks of the Noisy Lagosians, Godwin Odibo, Junior Lokosa and Philip Odubia were all involved in the capitulation of their former team, leaving them fifth in the table after the defeat.

Odibo won a penalty inside five minutes and Lokosa made no mistake from the spot to give Paul Offor’s side the lead while Paschal Durugbor doubled the advantage in the 27th minute.

A 38th minute own goal by defender Salaudeen Aliu reduced the deficit for Rem before halftime but the hosts came back with full throttle in the second half, as Odubia netted two more goals to see off the game 4-1.

It was Sporting’s second consecutive win at home and they are yet to lose in their last three matches.

“Great victory for us and especially the players. The quality and character they have shown is something to be proud of. I am very happy as a coach to have seen them play like this in front of their fans and against scoring four goals against Remo, one of the best teams in the country is massive,” Offor said after the game.

“And for them to transfer what we have done in training to the match, its one thing I love about them as well.”

Sporting were without some of their players for the game but a delighted Offor also sent a note of warning to them as they jostle for first team shirts again.

“We want to score more goals but we have to take it as it comes. We will always come for the three points and for my players who didn’t play should know that the bar has been raised with this game and to come back into the team, you have to work and give more.

“We are out of the relegation zone, we just want to keep going, we just want to keep playing our best football, enjoy ourselves and entertain our fans and get all the possible points we can get.”

Sporting are currently 12th in the table with 31 points and they will hope to go four games without defeat when they visit Niger Tornadoes in Kaduna on Wednesday.