The Nation Newspaper

Tag: IDOKO

  • Lobi Stars aiming at league title – Idoko

    Lobi Stars aiming at league title – Idoko

    Vice Chairman, Lobi Stars Football club of Makurdi, Mike Idoko has said his team will strive to win the Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL,) title this season .

    Speaking during a thanksgiving and dedication service held at Dunamis International Gospel Church in Makurdi, Benue State capital, ahead of the  2016/2017 football season which commences on January 14.

    Idoko said they returned to the church where he dedicated the team a year ago to thank God for what he did for the club in the 2015/2016 season.

    In thanking God for the success recorded last season ,the former Warri Wolves and Sunshine manager said he was gunning for the league title this season and called for prayers from the church.

    He told the congregation that in the last season, the team did not witness any accident despite travelling through out the country on air and road transport .

    He noted further that for the first time in 12 years the team finished 5th on the league table saying it called for thanksgiving .

    Earlier, Senior Pastor of the church, King Oloche Adaji prayed and anointed the players amd officials of the club urging them to do exploits in the coming season .

  • Lobi Stars’ key players intact – Idoko

    Lobi Stars’ key players intact – Idoko

    Vice Chairman, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, Mike Idoko has described media reports that most of its key players have dumped the team as untrue.

    The highly experienced football administrator, who stated this in an interview with Lobi Stars News, noted that the team’s key players are intact and are currently engaged in a pre season tournament in Ijebu Ode.

    He stressed that what transpired between the management of the club and a few key players was the high wage bills and other demands which the club considered as unrealistic for now, considering the economic realities in the country.

    On the setting up of a technical committee for the club, the former Sunshine Stars boss said the move was in line with the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) guidelines which would enhance productivity in that department.

    He assured the team’s teeming supporters that the players to prosecute next season’s matches are on ground as over 70% of the regulars are intact.

  • Lobi to retain Uwua, others for new season, says Idoko

    Lobi to retain Uwua, others for new season, says Idoko

    Lobi Stars’ Vice Chairman, Mike Idoko has asserted that the Pride of Benue’s technical crew headed by Godwin Koko Uwua would lead the team in the coming Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season to give continuity a chance.

    Idoko revealed that his first season in charge of Lobi was to build a solid team that would soon be the envy of all in the NPFL and that having placed fifth in his debut season, he is very optimistic that the Makurdi side would perform even better in the coming season.

    Idoko told Goal: “I want to confirm to you that coach Godwin Koko Uwua having led the team to fifth place finish at the end of the last season will still be the head coach next season and his assistant coaches will work with him. Last season was my first in the team and I did make it known that we are going to use it to build a new team.

    “We finished in fifth position at the end of last season and I am certain that if we are able to retain the technical crew and the major bulk of the coaches, we will do even better next season.”

    Idoko, however, affirmed that even though they are willing to retain most of the players that worked with them last season, any player that showed the willingness to move to another club won’t be hindered from pursuing his dreams if everything goes through the normal channel.

  • Idoko: I’m not under pressure to win league title

    Idoko: I’m not under pressure to win league title

    The Vice chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi Mike Idoko has said he is not under any pressure to win the Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL).

    Speaking to journalists in Makurdi Idoko stated that his main priority is to turn the Makurdi side into world class team that can take on any team without fear .

    According to the former Warri Wolves and Sunshine Stars  Manager ,it would take a minimum of two years to build a solid team and appealed to the supporters of the Makurdi side to be patient with the present management .

    On the present position of the club on the league table, the vice chairman stated that there is no cause for alarm saying three points have been deducted from Giwa United who have been expelled from the league, while there is a pending match against Ikorodu United who got involved in ghastly motor accident .

    He said Lobi has never had it so good in the league since inception as they remained in the top 10 after the first and second stanza and commended Governor Samuel Ortom for the support  despite the bad state of the economy.

  • Aftermath of Wikki draw: Idoko threatens to sack technical crew, players

    Aftermath of Wikki draw: Idoko threatens to sack technical crew, players

    Vice chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi Makurdi, Mike Idoko has called on the coaching crew and players of the premier league  side to double their commitment or face the axe.

    Addressing technical crew and players after the one all draw in the match week 10 of the Nigeria Professional Football League against Wikki Tourist of Bauchi, Mike Idoko said it’s time every one in the club from management, technic crew, players and back room staff to turn a new leaf or be shown the way out.

     Idoko, who was visibly angry with the players for poor form exhibited in the game, warned that he will not hesitate to wage the big stick against any one found wanting.

    He said the only way Benue State Government would continue to invest in the club is for the payers to be committed and win their matches. He reminded  the players and coaching crew that the fans have started coming to the stadium to watching Lobi matches in their numbers and the only way to compensate them for their support is to play good football and win .

    Responding, Head of Technical crew Chief Godwin Uwua assured that they would put in their best in subsequent matches just as he said they have put the disappointing performance against Wikki Tourist behind  them, and are looking forward to their next away game.

  • Idoko boosts morale of players with N.3m

    Idoko boosts morale of players with N.3m

    Vice chairman Lobi Stars of Makurdi Mike Idoko has boosted the morale of his players with N300,000 ahead of the match against Plateau United of Jos, in the week 7 of Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL)

    Addressing the players shortly after they round off their training at Pastoral center football pitch in Makurdi, Mike Iodko said the money was part of League Management Company( LMC) bonus for their away win against sunshine.

    The former Warri wolves Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) charged the players to go all out and take the maximum three points at stake against Plateau united in jos.

    He reminded them of the LMC policy to reward fans attendance in the stadium saying the only way they would attract fans into Aper Aku stadium is by winning matches both home and away.

     Team Manager and ex international Barnabas Imenger commended Mike Idoko for his transparency in handling the affairs of the club and pledged to put in their best in the match against Plateau united.

    Lobi players depart Makurdi for Jos today ahead of the Sunday encounter against Plateau United.

  • Idoko, Uwua, Imenger listed in new Lobi management

    Idoko, Uwua, Imenger listed in new Lobi management

    Benue State Government has appointed seasoned football administrator Mike Idoko as Vice chairman of Lobi Stars football club of Makurdi.

    In a two-paragraph statement signed by the State Secretary to Government  (SSG) Barr. Targema Takema, and made available exclusively to SportingLife,  said Chief Godwin Uwua is to serve as the team’s Techincal Adviser  while Barnabas Imenger is retained as the Team Manager. The statement said the appointments take immediate effect.

  • Idoko calls for stakeholders’ meeting for league clubs

    Aformer member of the Kano Pillars CAF Champions League Committee, Mike Idoko, believes there are many ills in the administration of Nigerian club football.

    In an exclusive interview with www.footballlive.ng Idoko, a veteran football administrator, suggested that club administrators hold a stakeholders’ meeting to address the several nagging issues plaguing clubs in the country, highlighting the concerns of players and general financing of football cubs.

    ”We have to look at the clubsides and players and ask if we are doing the right thing. We need to come together as one family and look at what the problems are so that we can correct them.

     “As big as Nigeria is, when it comes to club football it’s a challenge to us. There are many factors that affected our preparation including the financial situation. We pray though that the only surviving team in the Confederation Cup – Warri Wolves – will continue to compete and perhaps redeem our image.

    ”But for us to get there we have to look at all of these challenges we have and put them straight before we move on.”

  • Idoko hails Sunshine’s victory over Taraba

    Idoko hails Sunshine’s victory over Taraba

    THE Director, Technical and Management, Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), Mike Idoko on Thursday hailed Sunshine Stars 1-0 victory over Taraba FC in Week Eight of the Globacom Premier League.

    The match, played on Wednesday at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure, was the team’s second home win of the season. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the only goal of the match was scored by Tamen Medrano from the spot kick in the 36th minute.

    Idoko told NAN on Thursday in Akure that the victory had shown that the players were gradually blending.

    “Although the win was slim, our boys played a great game; we attacked our opponents throughout the game. I believe that if we continue this way, Sunshine will clinch the continental ticket that has eluded us for some years now,” he said.

    Sunshine Stars’ Coach, Henry Abiodun, also expressed satisfaction with the performance of his boys against the Taraba side, saying, the team remained focused ahead of other fixtures.

    “Our objective is to build a team capable of dominating Nigeria and Africa as a whole. I’m disappointed for not converting our scoring chances but at the same time, I am happy for the team, the win means a lot to us as a team.

    “Officiating in the league has been so great, home and away. I’m happy for my boys, I love their work rate and we will go back to correct our mistakes in training,” he said.

    The Akure-based team now has nine points from seven matches with a game in hand. Sunshine will face Akwa United in their next match billed for the Uyo Stadium on Saturday.

  • It’s cheap blackmail — Idoko

    It’s cheap blackmail — Idoko

    MIKE Idoko has blasted report of him been banned for 15-matches by the League Management Company.

    Reports on Wednesday did say that the Ordinary and Disciplinary Committee panel of the League Management Company (LMC) had handed the ODSFA boss the lengthy ban following his role in the fracas during the Sunshine Stars versus Shooting Stars game in Akure.

    Idoko said Thursday: “It’s rather unfortunate that some persons have resorted to cheap blackmail against my character that I used years to build.

    “I mean, how did the writer of that story come about his facts? I challenge him to provide evidence of the O & D of the LMC banning me.

    “Moreso the Oyo State Commissioner of Sports, Dapo Lam Adeshina who started the drama was not banned, rather the report said me, and despite the role I played to quell the tension. I think I should be commended for that.

    “I have been in this game for more than 15 years, so I play by the rules and for some persons to want to use the media negatively on me is not fair.

    “To put fact as it is, a copy of the letter sent to us from the domestic football body on the Sunshine Stars versus Shooting Stars matter never discussed my ban. Rather the Oyo State Commissioner of Sports and our Team Manager, Rasheed Balogun were only warned, while Gbolahan Salami, who was involved in an altercation with a ball boy was warned and fined the sum of N100, 000.

    “The rules are there and that’s what the LMC used against 3SC for failing to resume for the second half of the game.”