From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Vice Chairman/CEO of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, Mr Dominic Iorfa has disclosed that though his side is leading group B in the National Professional Football League, NPFL, much is still needed to be done to enable the club meet it’s target which is to play the intercontinental tournament in the next soccer season.
Mr Iorfa who made the disclosure in Makurdi, when he interacted with journalists to render account of his stewardship as part of activities to mark his one year in office said though he is not in the category of people who sing praises for themselves however, acknowledged that a lot has happened with the club looking at the performance of Lobi on the league table under his headship.
He noted that there were numerous challenges when he first took over management with Lobi grappling with relegation and said the club is now doing very fine at the moment as the records of their performance are there for people to see, acknowledging that he was able to achieve the fit with support from government, players and fans of the club.
The Lobi Stars Vice Chairman further explained that the NPFL is grouped into two with Lobi currently topping group B while Bendel Insurance is leading the other, adding that management under his watch is focused and committed to the target which is for the club to rank among the best two at the end of the season and enjoined players to demonstrate commitment, dedication and discipline as well as to work hard to achieve the target.
” Despite the fact that Lobi is topping group B, at the end three teams from the group will qualify to play in the supper six with each team playing to qualify for the tickets which only two clubs would be selected and for now Lobi Stars is only trying to land by securing a ticket to play in the continental tournament” Iorfa maintained.
The chief executive officer of the club who described football as a capital intensive project while answering questions on while the club which is one of the oldest in the country but has not attracted sponsorship said Lobi under his watch is trying to land by booking a ticket at the intercontinental, expressing optimism that when the club qualifies sponsors would be running after it as that would be a great relief to the Benue State Government which is for now the sole financial of the club.
Mr Iorfa who said Lobi has a history as one of the oldest club in the country among the top three teams in the country that has never been relegated in the history of Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, commended the Benue State Government for adequately sponsoring the club whose home matches have been shifted to Jos township stadium due to repairs being carried out on it’s pitch at the Aper Aku stadium Makurdi, expressing optimism that with it’s pedigree the club will attract sponsorship at the appropriate time as management at the moment is doing everything possible to belong just like other clubs who has already secured the intercontinental ticket ahead of the season.