The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lobi

  • ‘Victory over Lobi, birthday gift to our GM’

    ‘Victory over Lobi, birthday gift to our GM’

    Basking in the euphoria of their 1-0 victory over Premier League side Lobi Stars of Makurdi on Saturday at the Confluence Stadium Lokoja North central Nigeria, the officials and players of the Saraki owned club, ABS said the victory has been dedicated to the club’s General Manager, Alloy Chukwuemeka who turned 40 on Sunday.

    Spokesman of the Ilorin based NNL side, Jimoh Bashir told Journalists in Lokoja that it was a joy to celebrate with the club’s GM and the victory over Lobi was a needed tonic to wish him a special happy birthday at 40.

    Lukman Karatu scored the only goal of the match which was dominated by ABS with Mohammed Mohammed missing another obvious goal opportunity for the Sai-Saraki boys of Ilorin.

    Lobi Stars vice chairman Dominic Iorfa and chief coach Evans Ogenyi described the ABS team as a potential premier league side just as they tipped them for promotion.

  • Lobi players resume pre-season next Monday

    Lobi players resume pre-season next Monday

    • Club to shape up for 10 days before christmas break

    Lobi Stars have told their players to return to their Mc Arthur Sports Complex, Makurdi on Sunday for the start of their 10 day close camping exercise ahead of the 2013/2014 Globacom Premier League season.

    The Makurdi Bombers’ head coach, Evans Ogenyi told SportingLife that the camping is to ensure that the club raises a formidable team that would represent the state in the premier league and the Federation Cup competitions.

    The training will commence on Monday and the players will remain in camp until few days to the yuletide celebrations.

    “Lobi Stars players will resume training for the next league season on Monday and it will be a 10 day programme to get the best players possible for the team ahead of hostilities in the league and FA Cup.

    “We are going to make use of the MC Arthur Sports Complex in Makurdi. The training will be intense as Lobi looks forward to very fruitful season in the league and other competitions.

    “We are going to play some grade A friendly matches around this period too,” Ogenyi told SportingLife.

    Lobi finished last soccer season in 14th position with 52 points from 38 matches but they went as far as the semi finals in the Federation Cup before losing to Enyimba 1-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.

  • Lobi warns Pillars: It is do or die

    Lobi warns Pillars: It is do or die

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri  Lobi Stars players have warned the league reigning champions, Kano Pillars to be ready for war ahead of their Glo Premier League Matchday 38 tie today at the Chief Emmanuel Atongo Stadium in Katsina Ala.

    The Makurdi Bombers are condemned to win the tie with their 49 points garnered from 37 matches and placed 18th on the log.

    They are up against Pillars who only need a point to claim a third premier league shield to the ones won in 2008 and 2012.

    But Lobi players have told SportingLife that they are convinced they would get the needed maximum points to extend their stay in the premier league beyond this season.

    In an interview with SportingLife, Lobi Stars’ leading marksman and Super Eagles’ player, Barnabas Imenger Jnr, was not short of words to desribe the mood in the Lobi camp ahead of the crunch tie with Pillars.

    “To say the least it is a do or die affair. We have an unfinished scores to settle from the first leg in Kano which ended 1-1. We shall deploy our full arsenal to ensure we crush them and guarantee our premier league safety,” Imenger Jnr stated.

  • Loss of concentration, our nemesis – Lobi

    Loss of concentration, our nemesis – Lobi

    Lobi Stars have blamed loss of concentration as the main reason they lost their matchday 36 Glo Premier League tie to Dolphins in Port Harcourt Saturday.

    Emem Eduok’s 52nd minute goal after a nice work from veteran striker, Isiaka Olawale and the Port Harcourt dwellers sealed maximum points to the admiration of their supporters at the Liberation Stadium.

    Speaking with SportingLife after the match, Lobi’s head coach, Evans Ogenyi lashed out at his players for losing focus when it mattered most in the match.

    He has, however, promised that the Makurdi Bombers would return to winning ways on Wednesday when they play away to El Kanemi Warriors in another road tie.

    “We lost to loss of concentration and I will blame my players for not playing to instructions when it mattered most. We have lost but we must strive to get a win from another crucial away tie midweek,” Ogenyi charged his players.

    Playing in front of reported near empty stadium both teams started on a very slow pace after the observation of a minute silent for fallen 3SC hero, Moses Ogaga. Dolphins however changed gear and they hit the woodwork in the 10th minute through a low drive but Lobi also didn’t lie down to watch their opponents with Lekan Ogunloye and John Eimonye tormenting Dolphins’ rear guard when they had chances.

    It became a ding-dong affair as the first half ended goalless but the second half was quite different with Dolphins showing more seriousness at scoring and this paid off about seven minutes after the restart of the second half with Eduok’s goal.

    Lobi are on 49 points from 36 matches while Dolphins have 50 points from as many games too to move up on the log.

  • Dolphins will dim Lobi Stars —Abubakar

    Dolphins will dim Lobi Stars —Abubakar

    There will be no hiding place for Lobi Stars in today’s Week 36 tie as we are good to take our own pound of flesh from them at the Garden City.”

    These were the words of a bitter Dolphins assistant coach, Hassan Abubakar 48-hours before the game.

    “I recall the drama that occurred on the pitch in Kastina-Ala, we should have won, as we had the game under control, but they got two penalties from the moon and at the end we lost it.

    “The game killed the state of mind of our players, for weeks they kept using the game as a reference point.

    “We are not a team that want to win by cheap means rather through good play and hard work, so the Markudi team should expect the best from Dolphins.”

    The Stanley Eguma side who are placed 12th on the log with 47points, head-to-head meetings of both team revealed Lobi Star taking six points from them in the 2011/12 season.

  • Lobi goalkeeper Melai out for season

    Lobi goalkeeper Melai out for season

    Nigeria Premier League side Lobi Stars’ first choice goalkeeper Terkaa Melai has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

    Lobi coach Evans Ogenyi disclosed that his team will be without the services of the reliable gloveman due to a serious leg injury he suffered during a league match in Ilorin.

    “Our first choice goalkeeper Melai is injured and will be out of action for the rest of the season,” Ogenyi said.

    “He got injured during our Week 34 game against Kwara United in Ilorin. It is a serious injury on his leg which left him on crutches.

    “He should be okay in the next three weeks, which automatically means he is out of the season. We will miss him.”

    Ogenyi further maintained that Lobi will not be relegated.

    “I thank God for where we are today, we have done our best to move out of danger. It is not over yet but I am upbeat we will remain in the top league,” he assured.

    Lobi are now ninth on the table with 49 points from 35 matches.

  • New form excites Igbinoba

    New form excites Igbinoba

    Lobi Stars’ Esosa Igbinoba has attributed his new found form to the constructive criticisms he got from his trusted friends.

    Igbinoba was overlooked for selection by the Makurdi Bombers handlers due to poor form but his recent resurgent form made him to be picked again.

    He has become the rejection stone that has become the pillar of the house for Lobi after his improved form coincided with the club’s five matches unbeaten run in the premier league.

    The ex- Edo Insurance midfielder was in inspiring form for his club in the last league game against Gombe United and he once again proved to be helpful at dead ball situations as he buried the team’s first goal from the penalty spot in the 44th minute.

    Lobi scored another goal in the second half to run away 2-0 winners but Igbinoba has told SportingLife that he would ever be grateful to his critics who have helped him in turning a new leave.

    He opined he has learnt from his mistakes and that having scored three goals this season, he would strive to get more goals to prove doubters wrong that his new found form was no fluke.

    “I give glory to God who gave me the talent that some kindhearted individuals explored to make me a good player. I went through curves at some stages in my career which allowed doubts to creep into my self belief but I thank God that I have been able to recover to be a better player,” Igbinoba told SportingLife.

     

  • Lobi dedicate home win to Iorfa

    Lobi dedicate home win to Iorfa

    Lobi players and coaches have dedicated the 2-0 home win over Gombe United to the club’s Vice Chairman, Dominic Iorfa who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday.

    SportingLife had earlier reported that the players and coaches of the Makurdi Bombers were planning to beat the Savannah Scorpions in emphatic fashion for their mentor,Iorfa.

    This they actually did as all the players and other officials spoken to by SportingLife shortly after the match all had kind words for Iorfa and they wished him more fruitful years on earth.

    Lobi beat Gombe 2-0 to jump to ninth on the log with 49 points from 35 matches while their opponents slipped to 10th on the log with 49 points but with inferior goals difference.

  • Iorfa’s birthday: Lobi plan big win

    Iorfa’s birthday: Lobi plan big win

    Lobi Stars of Makurdi goalkeeper, Terkaa Melai has revealed that the players and officials of the club are planning to use their mid-week home tie against Gombe United as a birthday gift for the team’s Vice Chairman, Dominic Iorfa who is a year older today.

    Melai told SportingLife that the players have vowed to win against the Savannah Scorpions to give their boss a fitting birthday present since they do not have the financial willpower to do so.

    Recalling what they went through in Gombe when the first leg was played, Melai said it was God that saved his life and his colleagues. he said he was surprised to hear that the match commissioner did not reflect what happened in his match report.

    “We are going to beat Gombe United on Wednesday for our hard working boss, who will be a year older. He has been our pillar of strength and role model. He would add a year on Tuesday (today) on Independence Day. But we shall devote all we have towards our game against Gombe United on Wednesday so that we can present a fitting birthday present to him,” Melai told SportingLife.

    Meanwhile, the celebrant and Vice Chairman, Lobi Stars Football Club, Iorfa has expressed his excitement over his birthday that coincides with the Independence Day anniversary of the country.

    The astute administrator was born October 1 some decades ago in Gboko, Benue State.

    He said he would continue to remember his humble background and use his life for the cause of the down-trodden and common man on the streets.

    “It is always an honour to share similar birth date with the country and I am thrilled to be an Independence child. I am glad I can see another year and more of God’s favour and blessing.

    “I am not going to throw any birthday bash but I will use the opportunity to reflect on who I am and what I have achieved. I need to also do a cursory study of what I intend to be in the coming years,” Iorfa explained to SportingLife.

    Iorfa played professional football in England, Scotland, Turkey, Ireland and Belgium after he cut his footballing skills with BCC Lions of Gboko and Abiola Babes(both defunct). He also featured for Ranchers Bees in the 80s.

    He is renowned for his electrifying pace and gritty display on the pitch and he became cult hero at most of the clubs he played for.

    The former Super Eagles’ player was so important to Peterborough United that his name is still on the fans’ of the club’s lips during dull periods of their home matches.

    He played 15 games for the Super Eagles and was included in the team to the then King Fahd Intercontinental Cup in Saudi Arabia in 1995. The competition was later changed to FIFA Confederations Cup in 1999.

    His son, also named Dominic, plays as a defender for the England U-18 team and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

  • Lobi beat Kaduna Utd 2-1

    Lobi beat Kaduna Utd 2-1

    • Now 12th on the log

    Lobi Stars of Makurdi have beaten Kaduna United 2-1 to move to 12th on the log with 45 points from 33 games after an energy sapping Glo Premier League Matchday 33 tie played at the Emmanuel Akume Atongo Stadium, Katsina Ala.

    Two first half goals from Abraham Peters and Esosa Igbinoba put Lobi in the lead before Kaduna United reduced the arrears in the second half to make it a tension soaked climax at Katsina Ala.

    Lobi started faster of the two teams right from the blast of the referee’s whistle and impressive Douglas Achiv almost scored the opening goal inside the first two minutes.

    The Makurdi Bombers got the curtain raiser in the 4th minute after another nice work from Achiv gave lurking Peters the opportunity to nod into an empty net. Lobi netted again before the Ben Duamlong tutored Kaduna United could recover from the initial shock. Igbinoba was the architect of the second goal after he drilled the ball beyond the reach of Kaduna United’s goalkeeper.

    Kaduna United couldn’t get their bearing for most part of the encounter and are only reduced to bit pat intermittent forays in the attack which failed to yield any dividend.

    At the resumption of the second half,

    Both teams concentrated play at the midfield with occasional counter attack which couldn’t produce the desired effect. Kaduna United found a way to reduce the tally at a stage in the second half and Lobi players couldn’t reproduce the first half performance.

    Lobi hung on to an important victory. The win shot the Evans Ogenyi coached side to 12th on the log with 45 points from 33 games while Kaduna United slipped to 14th with 44 points from as many matches.