Benson Abounu commends Lobi Stars FC to win AITEO Cup

Deputy Governor of Benue state, Engr Benson Abounu, has commended the efforts of Dominic Iorfa-led Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi, which reversed the relegation that stared the club on the face in the just concluded 2021/2022 premier league season.

Engineer Abounu, who described Iorfa as a football genius Benue has produced, charged the club not to relent, until it wins the current edition of AITEO Cup competition.

Addressing Board, Management and players of Lobi Stars FC at his office in Makurdi, on Monday, Engr Abounu, who is also the chairman of the club, attributed the current social media attack on the club to those that were laid off due to redundancy.

“We were having rough time with the Emmanuel Tama leadership when Lobi Stars played 19 matches and were occupying the 19th position on the league table and were at the verge of relegation. The crowd shouted. Tama had to resign and Iorfa was recommended to come and remedy the situation.”

According to him, the N37 million government was releasing for the running of the club on monthly basis for the past fifteen years was to cover salaries of officials, players, servicing of vehicles, as well as feeding of players, among others.

He pointed out that even though the immediate past Vice chairman of the club, Mr Emmanuel Tama, had applied for upwards review of the amount from N37 million to N50 million, due to paucity of funds, the request has been put in view.

Engr Abounu explained that government decided to scrap Lobi Stars football club’s feeder team since the N100 million requested to sustain it was not available.

The Vice chairman of the club, Mr Dominic Iorfa, commended governor Samuel Ortom and his deputy, Engr Benson Abounu, for finding him worthy to serve for the second time as vice chairman fourteen years after he left office.

Mr Iorfa, who while commending the state government for financial support to the club to be where it is currently, assured of efforts to recruit new players preparatory to the 2022/2023 league season which the club hope occupy top position at the end of the season.

Speaking on behalf of players, the club’s Captain, Daniel Atsaka commended the Iorfa leadership for reviewing player’s travelling allowances from N20,000 to N50,000, noting that the vice chairman’s cordial working relationship has made players to put out their best which led the club out of relegation.

Complimenting Atsaka’s position, another player, Agbaji Tony Emmanuel, thanked Benue state government for paying salaries of players almost up to date.

In his remarks, the Technical Adviser of the club, Mr Baba Ganaru, said he accepted to work for Lobi Stars when it occupied the 19th position on the log, saying he combined efforts with Dominic Iorfa and players to pull the club out of relegation zone.

While assuring of his contentious efforts to place the club on the front line, Ganaru called on the state government to give him an official car and other incentives for the team to perform well.