The head coach of Sporting Lagos FC, Buter Jeffrey is giving thanks ahead of the Nigerian National League (NNL) Super-4, as he noted that God guided his team through every difficult situation they faced during the regular season.
Speaking to Sports247 on the eve of the NNL Super-4 at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, the largely unknown tactician from Benue State added that hard work and support from all his players and crew members helped him succeed with the team.
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Gaining promotion to the top-flight Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) during his first season fully in charge of the Lagos-based club is a record of sorts, but Coach Jeffrey is staying humble with his achievement.
The soft-spoken tactician retorted, “I began my coaching career with AS Roma Football Academy, and I was in the academy of Sporting Lagos before joining the senior team.
“I’ve spent a total of five years in football coaching and I’m still counting. This is my third year altogether with Sporting Lagos, but my first year with the main team.
“I started as an academy coach, then assistant coach in the senior squad and this is my first season as the first team’s head coach.”
He then looked at factors that accounted for the club’s successful return to the NPFL, tops of which he said is the grace of God on their side and then the presence of committed players in the team.
“First of all, I give thanks to God for guiding us through every difficult situation. I also thank everyone at the club who worked very hard.
“They made sacrifices and put in extra efforts. Thankfully, it all paid off. We have a squad of young players, but some people say youthfulness also means lack of experience.
“It could be a disadvantage but, for us, it worked. We worked really hard and we got better as the season progressed. God also helped us a lot when we were in difficult situations and he assisted us to come out of it all,” noted the gaffer fondly called ‘BJ.’
