Inter Lagos boss Olutayo vows to weed out ‘cowards’ after poor NPFL start

Inter Lagos interim head coach Olusanjo Olutayo has promised a major overhaul of his squad as he attempts to rescue the club’s difficult first season in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The Lagos-based side have won only once since entering the top flight and remain bottom of the table with six points. They are also without a victory in their past seven matches, leaving Olutayo determined to demand greater resilience and intensity from his players.

Olutayo made clear that he would no longer accept what he regards as timid performances, insisting that players must be mentally strong enough to cope with the demands of the division.

“I don’t like players who are scared. If I have cowards in my team, which I think we don’t, but if we do, we will weed them out,” Olutayo stated.

His warning extended beyond a lack of courage. The interim coach said players who appear unable to absorb and retain tactical instructions would also be at risk as he reshapes the team.

“We will weed out cowards, soft players, and players who can’t recollect information from the team.”

Inter Lagos are competing in the NPFL for the first time, but their maiden campaign has so far produced little encouragement. Their seven-game winless run and position at the foot of the standings have increased the pressure on the squad to respond.

Olutayo said the standard of Nigeria’s top division requires players who can understand information quickly and apply it effectively, particularly in difficult situations.

“The NPFL is the highest level of league football here, and I will work with players who can manage information; but if there isn’t any here, there will be an issue,” he concluded.