Joe Erico, Coach of Lagos United FC has blamed lack of long-term planning for his team’s 1-7 loss to SuperSports United of South Africa at the ongoing Lagos International Youth Cup.

Erico told newsmen after the match played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium over the weekend that the South Africans had long-term planning and a well-established football culture.

He admitted that the team did not prepare adequately for the competition.

Erico said that he decided to accept the job based on the State Government’s plan to have a structure for youth soccer development.

“Gov. Babatunde Fashola personally approached me for the job and assured me that there will be a structure for youth football development; that informed my decision to accept the job.

“Although we had bad results from our matches, the idea is not to win at all cost that was why we parade truly U-17 players.

“After this championship we will go ahead to build the team, age is certainly on their side, they are players for the future,’’ he said.

He added that the players would have a better exposure than before the championship.

“They have not lost all, they will become better players at the end of the championship in terms of exposure to international competition.

“ They will also have team work, team spirit, attitude for winning fairly and sportsmanship in defeat,’’ Erico said.

Coach Kaitano Tembo of SuperSports said the result at this stage of the players’ carrier should not be over-emphasised.

“We didn’t come here to be winning, we are here to give the players the needed exposure.

“But good enough they are playing well and winning. The team has been together for long, graduated from the U-15 to U -17, that is the progression we have,’’ Tembo said.