The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lobi

  • Lobi, Dolphins, Kwara Utd chase Otegbeye

    Lobi, Dolphins, Kwara Utd chase Otegbeye

    Ajibola Otegbeye is being closely followed by Nigeria Professional Football League top sides, a close family friend of the player, has revealed to sl10.ng.

    The fast attacker, who last turned out on loan for Shooting Stars Sports Club is a hot property in the transfer market, with top flight clubs willing to invest in his talent.

    “There are three clubs interested in him. I can tell you that Lobi Stars, Dolphins and Kwara United are the three teams most serious in grabbing him,” the player’s family friend disclosed to sl10.ng.

    All three sides are eager to boost their offensive options and SL10 sources predict bigger things to come from Otegbeye, who turned heads during his spell at ABS FC.

  • Lobi to defend record against Dolphins

    Lobi to defend record against Dolphins

    Lobi Stars central defender, Anthony Agbaji has said his side will maintain their almost 100% home record against former Nigerian champions, Dolphins.

    The Pride of Benue will host the Garden City side in Sunday’s Glo Premier League final match day 38 encounter at the Emmanuel Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala.

    Agbaji said his side are satisfied with their performance in the outgoing season, though a ticket at the continent would have been more cherished.

    “We’ll continue our five-star performance at home against Dolphins on Sunday, aimed at ending the outgoing season on a high. I know Dolphins will pose a hard nut to crack, possibly to dent our flawless home record but we won’t  allow them the luxury.

    “We’ve steeled ourselves to take any banter Dolphins will be throwing at us as ours is to pocket the maximum three points at stake. We had an eventful campaign this season unlike the immediate past season that we struggled to stay away from relegation.

    “As players we regret missing out at the continent, though we’re somehow comforted with the fact that we’ll be finishing strongly on the league log. I’m quite certain our end table position will be satisfactory to even our ardent supporters as well as critics.

    “I can say confidently that the outgoing season wasn’t a disappointing one in all ramifications,” said the Lobi Stars man to supersport.com.

    Lobi Stars are seventh on the 20-team Nigerian top flight log on 56 points at the end of week 37 matches.

  • Lobi thump Rangers 2-0

    Lobi thump Rangers 2-0

    Lobi Stars ended their six match unbeaten run of Enugu Rangers at the Chief Emmanuel Akume Atongo Stadium, Katsina after the home side defeated the Flying Antelopes 2-0 in a Glo Premier League Week 32 tie played yesterday.

    The Makurdi Bombers shot into the lead in the 39th minute after Rangers goalkeeper Akor Itodo was adjudged to have fallen a Lobi player in the vital area. Lobi was awarded a penalty kick while Akor was given a red card. Lobi’s goaltender, Terkaa Melai scored from the resultant spot kick for the home side’s opener.

    Lobi increased the tally in the 43rd minute after Idakwo Eche got the second goal of the game.

    There was no goal in the second half as Lobi moved to 47 points with a game still at hand-a disputed tie with Nembe City at Omoku.

    The defeat was a temporary setback to the Flying Antelopes who have garnered 14 points from possible 18 before the loss to Lobi. Rangers are on 45 points from 32 games and they will welcome Heartland to Enugu on Thursday in a Week 33 tie.

  • Lobi to appeal LMC ‘s verdict

    Lobi to appeal LMC ‘s verdict

    Lobi Stars have disclosed that they would appeal the verdict of the League Management Company(LMC) which ruled that their inconclusive Premier League Week 27 tie should be replayed from where the game stopped before it was abandoned by the home team.

    Subject to the ratification of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF),the LMC ruled on Thursday that Nembe would play their next three home games at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City while they were also fined N500,000 for the action of the home fans who encroached on the pitch immediately a penalty was awarded the away side in the dying minutes of the match.

    But LMC ordered that the botched match be concluded at a neutral venue yet to be fixed and on a day yet to be announced.

    Lobi Stars, in a chat with SportingLife, said they would be appealing the verdict of the LMC ruling to the NFF whom must still rubber stamp the decision of the league body before it becomes sacrosanct.

  • Imenger: Lobi eyeing continental ticket

    • Says the Makurdi side are better than El Kanemi

    Lobi Stars have boasted that they are a now better than last season.

    They have vowed to beat El Kanemi on Sunday in a Glo Premier League Week 26 tie so that they could move up the league table than their present ninth position with 37 points from 25 games.

    El Kanemi grabbed a surprise 1-1 draw at Katsina Ala after a late rally forced a share of the spoils but Lobi’s Team Manager, Barnabas Imenger informed SportingLife that situation won’t be the same this term.

    He recalled that same El Kanemi beat them 2-0 during the first stanza in a Week 6 encounter in Kano but that they were consoled with the fact that they held possession and had many scoring chances which they couldn’t convert then.

    Imenger, who was former Super Eagles’ striker, hinted that a much improved Lobi Stars would ensure that maximum points are theirs on Sunday with their eyes still on earning a continental ticket at the end of the season.

    “It was a drawn game last season but we can’t judge last season with what is obtainable presently. We have a very improved squad now and we are sure of getting all points against El Kanemi Warriors on Sunday.

    “They beat us 2-0 in Kano but they would attest to the fact that we held ball possession more and had scoring chances too which we were unable to bury then. We have corrected our mistakes and a renewed Lobi would beat El Kanemi on Sunday,” Imenger told SportingLife.

  • Osia backs Lobi’s recruits

    Osia backs Lobi’s recruits

    Lobi Stars utility player, Felix Osia, has backed the new players at the club to boost their quest for honours this term.

    No fewer than 12 players joined the club during the mid-season break and club gaffer, Evans Ogenyi, deployed six on the resumption of the second round against Heartland.

    Interestingly, former Nembe City midfielder, Joseph Essien, made a goalscoring debut on match day.

    “The new players come with maturity expected for the top flight. It’s a good move which will benefit the club and we are working hard,” he said to supersport.com.

    Osia has maintained a positive impact following his switch to Lobi this term.

    Another recruit from Nembe City, Samson Gbadebo, is expected to continue his partnership with Osia in central defence.

  • Eguma salutes Lobi Stars

    Eguma salutes Lobi Stars

    Despite Wednesday’s victory over Lobi Stars, Dolphins gaffer Stanley Eguma has hailed the performance of their Premier League rivals in Wednesday’s Federation Cup quarterfinal.

    Emem Eduok opened the scoring in the first half, while Shaibu Adamu equalised for Lobi in the second half.

    Consecutive goals from Ebube Opokwu, Bolaji Sakin and Victor Alegbe gave Dolphins a comfortable 4-1 lead before Seriki Audu scored for Lobi Stars to make it a respectable scoreline on the day.

    “Lobi remain a good side. The difference was that we had to double our efforts and that’s why we got the edge.

    “We will go into the semifinal in the same manner,” Eguma told supersport.com.

    It is the second time Dolphins defeated Lobi Stars this year.

    Back in 2001, Eguma entered the history books as the first manager to win the former Coca-Cola FA Cup for Dolphins.

  • Lobi Stars defender on trials at Sunshine

    Ex-Lobi Stars defender Samuel Iorwuese Utsaha hopes to return to action.  He is currently on trials at Sunshine Stars.

    Utsaha, who was a member of the Lobi squad who lost the Federation Cup final to Heartland in 2011, fell out of favour with the Makurdi club the following year.

    He later had a brief stint with Gombe United, but was out of contract at the beginning of the current season.

    Utsaha, a left-footed player who operates at the left full back and left side of the midfield, said he is confident his career will be revived at Sunshine.

    The talented and skilful player told Africanfootball.com that from all indications, the coach of Sunshine has fallen in love with his style of play and he is willing to give him a chance.

    “I am currently on trials at Sunshine Stars. I was invited by the coach and from all indications, he is willing to give me a chance to prove myself,” he said.

    “There are signs that things will work out and I can’t wait to return to action. I have been out, but this is my time to make a bold statement.”

  • Lobi, El Kanemi condole with Shehu Gusau’s family

    Lobi, El Kanemi condole with Shehu Gusau’s family

    Lobi Stars of Makurdi have expressed their heart-felt grief and are consoling the football family in the country over the death of  Shehu Gusau, who was a former vice chairman of the then Nigeria Premier League(NPL).

    In a message from the club through the Makurdi side’s General Manager, Barnabas Imenger, Lobi described his death  as a great loss to the football family.

    Lobi’s GM pointed out that Gusau would not only be missed by his immediate family members but the Nigeria football family for his contribution to the growth of the game.

    Quoting the former Super Eagles’ striker as sent by the club’s Media Officer, Mark Agbo: ” I wish on behalf of my Vice Chairman and Technical Director,  Dominic Iorfa and the club extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family and pray God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

    The late Gusau reportedly died last Friday after a brief illness and he was buried same day, according to Islamic rites.

    In a related development, The Board of Borno State Football Association and the management of El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri has expressed huge shock over the death of the former vice chairman of Nigeria Premier League  board, Alhaji Shehu Gusau who died last weekend after a protracted illness.

    Chairman of the Borno FA, Babagana Kalli, said: “The news of the death of Guasu came to us as a shock. I was on my way to Port-Harcourt with El-Kanemi for a league match when the news came in. We feel so sad.

    “Shehu Guasu until his death was  very hardworking and dedicated to his job, it is so sad we lost a man who contributed to the development of sports and football in this country. On behalf of the Borno Football Association and the management of El-Kanemi FC we pray to God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss and may his gentle soul rest in peace, amen.”

     

     

  • Lobi applaud match officials

    Lobi applaud match officials

    Lobi Stars’ Vice Chairman, Dominic Iorfa has praised the match officials that took charge of their Glo Premier League Week 11 clash at the Emmanuel Akume Atongo Stadium in Katsina Ala despite playing a 1-1 draw against Sunshine Stars.

    The Makurdi side lost their unbeaten home run since the start of the season by the virtue of the draw against the Akure Gunners but Iorfa who also played the round leather as a professional praised the match officials for their professionalism throughout the duration of the match.

    The match officials that were commended are Bethel Nwanesi from Imo(centre referee), Godwin Aju from Cross River( Assistant Referee

    1), Iheanacho C from  Abia(Assistant Referee 11), Robert Andungh from Borno (Reserve Referee).

    “To be frank with you the match officials detailed to handle our game with Sunshine Stars deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. I applaud the good way they handled the match and I will also recommend that other referees should imbibe same spirit for the good of the game. Referees should keep to the rules whether the game is played at home or away. That is the only way by which the game can grow in the country. We expect this kind of officiating at all our away matches too for fairness and equality,” Iorfa told SportingLife.

    To the match proper, Sunshine and Lobi made the game very frenetic from the blast of the referee’s whistle according to  information gathered by our correspondent and it was no surprise that the first goal of the match came from off the boot of premier league returnee, Dele Olorundare in the 10th minute. An unmarked Olorundare took his time before rifling home the opener to the disappointment of the home fans who had come to cheer Lobi to another home win.

    The initial goal took no time at all for Lobi before they cancelled it and made honours even in the 24th minute of the match barely 14 minutes after Sunshine’s goal. Former Sunshine striker, Ukeyima Akombo made his inclusion count when he rose to nod home the equaliser.

    Lobi created chances but converting them became a problem. They however got a more easier one from 12 yards when the match officials spotted an infringement in Sunshine’s vital area but still Lobi’s captain, Bunde Moses couldn’t make it count as he shot into the waiting hands of Ikechukwu Ezenwa about 10 minutes from full time.

    Lobi have 16 points from 11 matches while Sunshine are on 14 points from 10 matches. They still have an outstanding match-a home tie against Giwa FC.