The Nation Newspaper

Tag: LOBI STARS

  • Abia warriors 2-1 Lobi Stars: Okiemute injured

    Abia warriors 2-1 Lobi Stars: Okiemute injured

    Lobi Stars’ first choice goalkeeper, Okiemute Odah sustained an injury during his side’s 2-1 loss to Abia Warriors in match day 13 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday.

    SportingLife reports that the former Warri Wolves safe hands suffered a deep cut to his cheeks when he was fouled by Abia Warriors’ Sunday Adetunji.

    Okiemute was replaced by John Lawrence when it was obvious he could no longer continue the game played on a waterlogged pitch.

    Anthony Okemmiri shot the Abia Warriors into the lead in the 10th minute before Kingsley Eduwo equalised for the visitors five minutes later after a goal mouth scramble off a corner kick.

    However, Chinedu James helped the coach Abdullai Biffo-tutored side pick the maximum three points when he nodded past his own goalkeeper, Lawrence, to score the second goal that separated both sides in the 84th minute .

    The club’s Team Manager, Barnabas Imenger confirmed Okiemute’s injury to SportingLife as he said that the team’s doctors are assessing the level of the cut.

    “Okiemute picked up an injury but I could not ascertain the level of the wound at the moment because it was raining heavily when the incident happened and I didn’t see it very clearly. All I can say for now is that the team’s doctors are on top of the situation,” Imenger said to SportingLife.

  • Uwua accepts suspension in good faith

    Uwua accepts suspension in good faith

    Lobi Stars technical adviser, Godwin Uwua has taken his suspension by the club in good faith and insists he will wait till the club calls him back.

    The former Flying Eagles coach was suspended on Monday for three weeks by the board for his team’s 0-0 home draw against Katsina United in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 8 in Makurdi on Sunday.

    In a chat with SportingLife, the former Enyimba FC of Aba manager said he bears no grudges against anybody.

    “I can’t say the decision by the club to suspend me is fair or not but I’m under the club and its management so I take it in good faith,” said Uwua to SportingLife.

    “I was at the training when they announced that I have been suspended for three weeks for picking a draw in the game against Katsina United. In the game of football, it is either you win, lose or draw. We have played seven matches and we have picked away draw too. We are currently in 8th position on the league table, which I don’t think is bad compared to others. In seven matches played so far, we won three, drawn 2 and lose two games.

    “I was called to come and turnaround Lobi Stars and I am trying to do my best for the team. I don’t have any bad feelings towards the board decision; it is a price to pay in football. I will continue to do my best. To God be the glory.”

    Coach Evans Ogenyi has been directed to take over pending Uwua’s return from suspension.

  • Nanen Imenger returns to Lobi Stars

    Nanen Imenger returns to Lobi Stars

    Nanen Imenger have decided to play for Lobi Stars again after all his plans to play abroad have been put on hold until summer, SportingLife can reveal.

    Sportinglife reports that Nanen was closed to Étoile du Sahel of Tunisia move but the contract was stalled when both parties failed to agreed on fees.

    Ex-international Barnabas Imenger senior, who confirmed the development, told SportingLife that he would have preferred his son to take up another challenge elsewhere.

    “Just to inform you that Nanen may be on his way back to Lobi Stars as all his international plans have been put on hold for now till summer. Nigeria transfer window has closed and the only best option left is Lobi Stars, his club last season. Besides, this is his state and he’s loved by everyone here at Lobi Stars. We still continue praying for him to achieve his dream. God does not fail and he will excel,” Imenger said to SportingLife.

    “It was my desire for my son to take up a fresh challenge elsewhere and he had already started training with Rangers International before these foreign clubs came knocking and he traveled out for trials.  I thank the head coach of Rangers and the management for the courtesy extended to him,” he added.

  • AWAY WIN: Governor Masari tasks Katsina Utd

    AWAY WIN: Governor Masari tasks Katsina Utd

     

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has challenged Katsina United to double their efforts and pick away win in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    The Governor, who spoke to the team through the Katsina United chairman Aminu Balele Kurfi, said there is no difference between home and away matches.

    Kurfi admitted that the club has received financial and moral support from the governor which he described as a motivating factor to his team.

    “His Excellency Governor Aminu Masari has talked tough to the team and told us to go and get away win. The governor said if a team can come to Katsina and get a point, there is no reason why we should not get points away from our home ground,” Kurfi told SportingLife.

    “The Governor prefers away point to home point and believes that winning away game give a club a national outlook. As soon as I received this directive, I tasked the technical crew and players about the challenges. The club has received financial, moral and psychological support from the governor. Even though we are new in the league but the governor has told us to learn more.”

    Kurfi also disclosed that Governor’s directives has started yielding positive result with the 0-0 draw against Lobi Stars in a matchday 8 clash in Makurdi on Sunday.

    “I can tell you that governor’s directive is now yielding good result for us as we picked a draw in the game against Lobi Stars. Based on the governor’s directive I promised the team that whenever they win away match they will receive their match bonuses that day. I am telling you that the players will get their match bonus today for the draw against Lobi Stars.”

  • Uwua praises LMC

    Uwua praises LMC

    Lobi Stars Technical Adviser, Godwin Koko Uwua has commended League Management Company (LMC) under Shehu Dikko for their leadership style.

    The former Enyimba manager said the league has received more attention and reformation since Dikko took over the mantle of leadership.

    “Shehu Dikko is a good leader. We complained of fatigue and we were given a week break to rest by suspending mid-week matches on Wednesday. We really appreciated what Dikko and his team are doing. I love a leader who always listening to his followers. I believe the way they are handling our league, if they continue like that our league will be one of the best in the world,” Uwua said to SportingLife.

    The former Niger Tornadoes gaffer has also said Manchester United manger Jose Mourinho is his idol.

    “I have been supporting Manchester United for the past 37 years and I like Mourinho style as a coach. He is my idol,” Uwua said.

  • Mid-week games are killing us- Uwau cries out

    Mid-week games are killing us- Uwau cries out

    Lobi Stars technical adviser, Godwin Koko Uwua has told SportingLife that the mid-week matches are not good for the Nigeria football.

    The former Enyimba FC of Aba manager said the organizers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) should have considered so many things before fixing mid-week matches.

    Uwua complained of fatigue as the players are not finding it easy with frequent travels to play league games within few days on bad roads.

    The Makurdi-based outfit suffered a 4-0 defeat to MFM in the match day 3 game in Lagos on Sunday before returning to Makurdi to thrash ABS 3-0 in the match day 4 on Wednesday.

    “We thank God that we won our match against ABS. But I must tell you that the long journey is really affecting how we play our games. Mid-week football is not good for us and not everything you see that you copy. You have to understand that our roads are bad. And we have to travel for league game within three days interval, it is not good at all,” the former Niger Tornadoes coach said to SportingLife.

    Uwua, who helped a South Africa club, Free State Stars gain promotion to the Premier Soccer League in 2007, said any journey that is more than three hours is usually by air in South Africa.

    “In South Africa, any journey that is more than three hours is by air. In England, which they are taking after too travel by air for any match that is more three hours because of jet lag.  We traveled about 12 hours to Ibadan for 3SC game on Sunday and it really affected my team’s performance, and we had to travel to Markurdi the following day to play against Kano Pillars on Wednesday. The following morning, we were on the road for another 13 hours journey to Lagos for MFM game. It is not easy and not good for our football. The distance covered is not favourable. We are doing something we don’t understand. Tomorrow (Friday) we will be on the road again to Port-Harcourt to play against Rivers United on Sunday. For how long are we going to continue with this?,” Uwua lamented.

  • I am not in a hurry to leave MFM -Chukwuka

    I am not in a hurry to leave MFM -Chukwuka

     

     

    Still basking in their 4-0 bashing of Lobi Stars, MFM inspirational midfielder Onuwa Chukwuka has given the club and its fans another cause to continue the celebration.

    Chukwuka whose enterprising moves contributed immensely to the results achieved Sunday at the Agege Township stadium, revealed that a number of clubs in the country are interested in him but that he is not thinking of leaving the club for now.

    Moving from one club to the other according to him is normal in football as every player dreams of playing at the highest level with maximum reward adding however that it is not his pre-occupation for now.

    “”Although there are some clubs interested in me I am not thinking about leaving the club now, my desire right now is to help the team perform very well this season, “he said

    He admitted that former teammate Ifeanyi Ifeanyi who has since pitched tent with Abia Warriors, is being missed at the club because he blended so much with him while they were playing together.

    “”He is being missed no doubt and I believe he will be missing us too but that is football for you,”” he submitted

    Some fans of the Lagos based club have described the result achieved on Sunday as a sweep pie coming just after the team lost by the same margin to IfeanyiUbah.  They expressed hope that the players will maintain the tempo whether playing at home or away, insisting that every team in the premier league stand equal chance of finishing tops and earning a continental ticket.

    MFM occupy the fourth position on the log with six points in three matches just a point below Champions league campaigners Rivers United who have earned seven points in three matches.

  • Nigeria League match results

    The following are the results of Match Day 1 fixtures in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), played on Sunday:

    Shooting Stars 2-0 Lobi Stars

    MFM FC 3-0 Niger Tornadoes

    Enyimba International 1-0 Sunshine Stars

    ABS FC 3-1 Akwa United

    Rivers United 2-1 El-Kanemi Warriors FC

    Rangers International 1-2 Abia Warriors

    Katsina United 2-1 Gombe United

    Remo Stars 1-2 Plateau United

    Wikki Tourists 0-0 Nasarawa United(NAN)

    Played on Saturday:

    Kano Pillars 1-0 FC IfeanyiUbah

    (abandoned after 50 minutes)(NAN)

  • 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 to face Kano Pillars in semi-finals

    Lobi Stars to face Kano Pillars in semi-finals

    Lobi Stars Fc  have been drawn against Kano Pillars FC,  in the semi-finals of the  ongoing pre-season Gold Cup tournament in Ijebu-Ode.

    The Pride of Benue will face their fellow Nigeria Professional League side today.

    Godwin Uwua’s team booked their spot in the last four of the competition with a 1-1 draw against  Crown FC on Wednesday evening , having previously played Enyimba, FC Yobo and Remo Stars.

    Lobi Stars were knocked out  in the last edition by Crown FC, and haven’t  reached this stage of the competition which pleases Coach Godwin Uwua.

    “I’m happy we are in the semi finals after playing such a though team like Crown FC, make no mistakes they’re a strong team despite them being in the lower league, they knocked us out last year so this result makes sense to me, and I’m looking forward to the semifinals match against Kano pillars. Of course, you know it’s not going to be an easy game but we’ll be victorious at the end,” he said