The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lobi

  • Lobi’s Eduwo sets 20-goal target

    Lobi’s Eduwo sets 20-goal target

    Lobi Stars striker Kingsley Eduwo has told  AfricanFootball.com his personal target this season is to score 20 goals.

    He has already scored four goals this season, two goals shy of leading scorer and fellow teammate Anthony Opotu. The young striker also said he hopes his goals will lift Lobi to win trophies.

    “My target is to score 20-goals this season,” he told AfricanFootball.com.

    “The season is still very young, but that’s my personal target. I am not under pressure to score, I will take my time and I am sure I will get to my target and help my team Lobi win trophies.”

    Last season, he featured for Sunshine Stars.

  • Lobi to clinch sponsorship deal soon

    Lobi to clinch sponsorship deal soon

    Lobi are about to seal a sponsorship deal with an unnamed company and if it is concluded with the ratification of the League Management Company(LMC), the firm will brand the Pride of Benue’s kits for the duration of the league season.

    The Vice Chairman of the club, Mike Idoko told SportingLife that the Makurdi side are doing everything possible to measure up with the rest of their peers in the top flight and that with the current economic meltdown in the country they are looking at various ways to bring in money to the club without depending solely on government.

    He also disclosed various methods put in place by the club to ensure that fans return to the stadium and that the revenue of the Makurdi side shore up from their own private dealings with sponsors and others.

  • Lobi Stars set to unveil new logo, jersey

    Lobi Stars set to unveil new logo, jersey

    The Management of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi is set to unveil a new logo and jersey for the 2015/ 2016 Premier League season.

    Speaking to sports journalists in Makurdi, the Vice chairman of the club, Mike Idoko said the new logo and jersey are part of the plan to re-brand the club and return it’s lost glory.

    He said he has entered into agreement with a reputable marketing company,Double Bem Company Nig. limited, to knit Lobi players and other prominent supporters of the Makurdi side, which will be unveiled on April 16.

    Representative of the sports marketing  company, Sofela Olajide said the unveiling of the jersey is in line to make teams marketable.

    He said unveiling jerseys is also meant the generate money for the club and pointed out that acros the world clubs  unveil jerseys at the end of every season.

  • Dike relishes win against Lobi

    Dike relishes win against Lobi

    Heartland head coach, Alphonsus Dike has described as huge relief his side’s first victory in the ongoing Nigerian top flight.

    The Naze Millionaires piped hard fighting Lobi Stars 1-0 in Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 5 clash at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

    Forward, Fortune Omoniwari scored the match winner that handed his side the first three points of the season.

    Dike said the victory is the tonic his side needed to turn around positively their fortune which saw the Owerri outfit winless in the last four matches.

    “It was a hard match and hard fought victory as we strive to pick up momentum after going four matches without a win.

    “The goal margin could have been more as we missed some chances at goal due to pressure on the players to impress and avoid another unsavoury result.

    “Of course, the atmosphere prior and during the game was a bit charged as some people understandably are already losing confidence in the team and openly expressed their feelings.

    “I want to believe that this victory is the turnaround we need to play ourselves back to reckoning in the league.

    “I’m happy with the win and it came with huge relief to everybody who has witnessed the side’s poor results in the past matches.

    “At least the jinx of not winning on home ground as well as not scoring has been broken with today’s (Sunday) victory.

    “We will not relent but work harder to reclaim some of the points we have given away in our subsequent matches,” said the former Enugu Rangers and Nasarawa United coach to supersport.com.

    The victory against the Pride of Benue, Lobi Stars has jerked up Heartland’s total earnings to five points from possible 15 in the five-week old top flight.

  • Odita predicts Lobi, MFM will drop

    Odita predicts Lobi, MFM will drop

    Lobi Stars and newly promoted MFM FC lead the rest of the pack in the Nigeria Professional Football League after four matches but Enugu Rangers skipper, Okey Odita says the traditional teams will soon reclaim their positions at the top of the log.

    MFM FC are enjoying a fairy tale run in their debut season; dropping points only against Shooting Stars in a 3-0 defeat. The Lagos-based club responded with a 2-1 win against Sunshine Stars but Odita isn’t convinced with the credentials of the early risers.

    Defending champions, Enyimba are 16th on the table but have two games outstanding because of their Champions League campaign and Odita is backing them to climb steadily up the table.

  • Lobi face Nasarawa Utd in friendly tie today

    Lobi face Nasarawa Utd in friendly tie today

    Lobi Stars and Nasarawa United will later today trade tackles at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi in their final warm up match before the start of the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League season on Saturday.

    The Makurdi side are hoping to better last season’s performance where they got to the final of the Federation Cup and also retained their Premier League status before the final match of the season.

    While Nasarawa United on their part got to the semi-final of the Federation Cup and also came third in the league to book a CAF Confederation Cup ticket.

    The Team Manager of Lobi Stars, Barnabas Imenger told SportingLife that both clubs would use the friendly match to put finishing touches to their preparation for the first game of the season where Lobi play away to 3SC on Sunday while Nasarawa United host MFM FC in Makurdi, their adopted home.

    Imenger added that they convinced some of the players of the state’s origin to come back home to help salvage the club and that this has yielded the return of Eneji Otekpa (Kano Pillars), David Tyavkasse (Gabon), Solomon Kwambe (Warri Wolves) and few others.

    He hailed the club’s pre-season results which fetched six victories and a draw and a defeat on penalty shoot-out to Supreme Court FC of Abuja during the Gold Cup pre season in Ijebu Ode and also thumbed up the hard work of the Godwin Koko Uwua-led technical crew.

     

  • 3SC, Lobi will be a cracker in Ibadan- Imenger

    3SC, Lobi will be a cracker in Ibadan- Imenger

    The Team Manager of Lobi Stars, Barnabas Imenger has expressed relief at the opening day fixture of the 2015/2016 season which pitted them with 3SC reiterating that the tie would be a cracker in Ibadan.

    The Pride of Benue have alleged raided some of the players of the Oluyole Warriors but Imenger in a chat with SportingLife noted that Lobi would like to start the season well hence their resolve to storm Ibadan with their best legs so as to commence the season well.

    Imenger said that an impressive start against 3SC will no doubt set the tone for a brighter season devoid of relegation battle of previous seasons.

  • Lobi holding on to Stars

    Lobi holding on to Stars

    Lobi Stars will retain 70% of the squad from last season and hope to sign four or five experienced players, coach  Justin Tenger has told footballlive.ng.

    The Benue-based team were finalists in the 2015 Federation Cup and Tenger, who has set his retirement date for the end of the season, is keen on building a team strong enough to compete for titles in the new season.

    According to Tenger, the club’s top performers from last season, Austin Okpotu and Barnabas Imenger resumed the pre season training and are expected to remain with the club.

    “We will retain 70% of our players from last season and bring in about 4 or 5 experienced players  we’ve made contact with.

    “Our training resumed  January 4 and  Austin (Okpotu) and Barnabas Imenger are with us. However, not  everybody is here and for the players who are still away, we expect them to let us know if they’ll return this season,” the coach said.

  • I did my best for Lobi – Iorfa

    I did my best for Lobi – Iorfa

    Vice-chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi, Mr. Dominic Iorfa will relinquish his position at the end of the year after 14 years of meritorious service to the Benue State-owned club.

    During this period, the former international served as Sole administrator, chairman, Technical Director and Vice-Chairman.

    Iorfa, who guided Lobi Stars to the finals of this year’s Federation Cup finals said he has taken the decision to step down after due consultation with his family.

    “After 14 years at the helm of affairs of Lobi Stars, the time has come for me to step down so as to have more time to face other challenges.

    “I did my best while serving as Sole Administrator, Chairman and Technical Director of the club. My landmark achievements are there for everyone to see.”

    Iorfa also thanked the Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom for giving Lobi Stars both physical and moral support since assuming office in May this year.

    “I want to thank the government and people of Benue State for giving me the opportunity to serve the state. I want to specially appreciate His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who has been very supportive since he assumed office.

    Iorfa, however, said even as he is stepping down from his position, he will continue to give Lobi Stars and football in the state all the necessary support.