Vice Chairman of Lobi Stars FC Dominic Iorfa has cried out over plans by some detractors of the club, mostly members of the past Managements to work against the survival struggle of the North Central club to escape relegation. 

This is coming on the heels of a court order to seize the club’s official bus during their training session in Makurdi Friday ahead of the crucial match against Dakkada FC in Makurdi on Sunday. 

The court had ordered the seizure of Lobi stars bus owing to the accumulated debts owed by previous Managements to hoteliers and other parties.

The Lobi stars boss alleged that it was a ground plan hatched by some top members of the past Managements of the club who are desperate to see the club go down to the relegation waters despite government efforts and huge support to the team.

According to him ” I was given the mandate by the governor to rescue the team from troubled waters and we are doing everything possible by the grace of God to do the assignment, but those who put the club in this mess are working against us” he cried out. 

He continued ” Lobi stars is the symbol of the state and the people of Benue state will not be happy to see the team relegated, Iam ready to offer my best to rescue the team but all these blackmail and distractions are not good at this crucial and critical stage” 

“If the club could succeed in the previous administrations, then the club must not die in the hands of Gov. Ortom who has done massively well in supporting the club financially, I won’t allow that to happen ” he assured.

“Before I took over this assignment, the immediate past Management played 19 matches and got only 19 points out of possible 57 points and placed on 19th bottom position, but today by the grace of God and with the huge support of the state government, Supporters, fans and the entire team we have played 15 matches, garnered 24 points and placed joint 12th position on the Log with 4 matches to go, God will see us through ” he prayed.

He warned the detractors not to take his patience for granted because he refused to probe them on assumption of office, stressing that he would be forced to activate all the relevant means to set up a probe panel to unearth their untoward stewardship in the club.

Nobody fancies the chances of height challenged players in aerial contests for balls, especially in seeking to score against taller defenders.
But dimunitive Wikki Tourists’ forward, Fuad Ekelojuoti believes heading balls is one of his major strengths despite his short height. He insists that he is not surprised beating opponents to high balls because they obviously under estimate his prowess in the air.
The second half substitute had headed home Wikki Tourists’ second goal against Dakkada FC in their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 27 clash at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, beating a taller defender to Emmanuel Charles cross. He quipped that while defenders see his shortness as a weakness, he sees it as an advantage which he has used to the fullest. 
Ridwan Adeshina opened scoring for the Wikki Tourists early in the game lashing home from top of the box few minutes after Abubakar Aliyu had hit the right hand post with goalkeeper Thomas Omokhudu stranded.
Aliyu later scoffed a chance to double the lead cuing wrongly inside the six yard box in front of an open net. Fuad, who replaced Manu Garba, doubled the scores in the 70th minute. 
According to the forward, “I’m not surprised scoring, as we have been practising goal scoring in training and this is one of the type of goals we have been practising. Scoring a header is also not a new thing to me, this happened to be what people see as a deficiency in me because of my height but I see it as an advantage. 
“I’m happy to have scored my second goal of the season for my team and I hope to score many more before the end of the season, perhaps hitting double digit. My staying power in the league has been the grace of God and a bit of hard work because I don’t play with extra training,” the veteran league player said. 
For Dakkada FC coach, Danlami Umar, the loss was not good for his team’s aspiration of beating the drop, but he is hopeful that they will escape relegation and maintain their premier league status next season. 
“We didn’t play up to our expectation, though we didn’t perform so badly. We still have hope that the team will pick up and we would get out of this mess. I don’t think it’s irredeemable, we will work harder to improve. Good result is what we are hoping for in the next match.”  

The match was characterised by limited opportunities, fierce battle in the middle of the park and breathtaking defending.
Within ten minutes, the home side piled the pressure on the opposing defence line with an intent of drawing first blood. Inemesit Sunday had a clear chance at goal but his shot was slightly off target, while Ekerette Udom missed a free header which should have put the home side in front. 
Ekerette who joined from Vandrezzer in mid-season redeemed himself in the second half, sealing the game for the home side with a header, sixteen minutes into the second half. 
The visitors had a chance to get a goal in the encounter as Peter Eneji had his curler punched away by goalkeeper Thomas Omokhudu, with that being the only clear chance they had in the game. 
Plateau United handler, Fidelis Illechukwu commended his players after the game saying both sides put in thier best. 
“We played well and lost but we’ll look at the areas we need to work on and make corrections”, he said. 
He expressed optimism with his side’s chances despite the result and promising that Plateau United will give a strong fight till the end of the campaign. 
For Coach Umar Danlami, whose side are currently 14th on the log after 26 games, the visitors stretched his team, but praised his lads for being resolute. 
“It was a tough game and as expected, Plateau United is a good team to reckon with in the league and their position on the log confirms that. I’m happy my boys went through it victorious “, he said.
Dakkada hopes to keep their place on the log, but could be leapfrogged by Abia Warriors or Katsina United if the duo win their respective fixtures against Heartland and Akwa United. 
The gap between Rivers United and Plateau United could further be widened depending on the outcome of the fixture involving the former and Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday. 

Remo Stars recovered from a nervy start to defeat visiting Dakkada 4-1 on MatchDay 24 of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL). 
It was a win that Coach Gbenga Ogunbote believes has positioned the club to achieve their season’s objective.
The Remo Stars Manager expectedly was full of praises for the players for scoring the highest goals return this season. 
“The Boys showed tremendous spirit in the match and I am most impressed”, remarked the well travelled Coach.
“We will continue our run in the league. Our aspiration is to finish well and we are on course”, he concluded in a post-match interview.

Following the win, the Sky Blues moved into third place with 40 points on the NPFL log, two points ahead of Rangers International who lost away to Niger Tornadoes.

The midweek clash had al lot riding on it as the Sky Blues continued their search for a continental ticket and the visitors looking to stay clear of the drop zone.
After what looked like a very even encounter in the first half, It was a different Remo Stars that emerged in the second stanza.
The home team took the lead in the 33rd minutes through Flying Eagles invitee Tolulope Ojo who curled in a brilliant shot after he was setup by Dayo Ojo. The youngster is fast making a name for himself in the colours of the Sky blue.
The celebrations that greeted the opening goal was hardly over when the visitors equalised in impressive fashion through Etido Dan.
Another quick strike from Qudus Akanni from long range in the helped the Ogunbote coached team settle in early as the visitors played catch-up.

Andy Okpe increased the lead just before the hour mark as Dakkada failed to deal with a long throw into their box by Ewelike Edozie. The lanky striker easily headed into the top corner. From then onwards it became a matter of when not if the home team was going to score another goal.
Sikiru Alimi finished the game off at the death with a sumptuous goal. The striker continued his impressive goals return since his return to the league.
Dakkada Coach, Umar Danlami was of the view that the team fared badly in the second half.
“it was poor second half that cost us the game. We could not replicate our performance in the first half and that cost us the match. We will have to go back and strategize ahead of our next match against Nasarawa United. It’s another away game and we have to put in our best”
Remo Stars next travel to Jos to tackle title chasing Plateau United, a fact not lost on Gbenga Ogunbote whose retort on the coming fixture was, “When we get to the bridge..”

Akwa United have now picked six points from two matches. Jigawa Golden Stars still have one point.

Suleiman Shehu, Idris Khamus and Imrana Musa were on target for Kano Pillars who walloped Enyimba 3-0.

The Young Masu Gida also sealed their place in the last eight with six points from two games.

Lobi Stars forced Dakkada to a 1-1 draw at the Cathedral.

It was a match of few chances, but Victor Michael drew the first blood before Sejugh Lortyer levelled matters for the Makurdi based side.

Dakkada have picked two points from two games, while Lobi Stars have one point.

Action continues on Tuesday when Rivers United take on Adamawa United.

Another game will see defending champions Katsina United face Heartland. Both sides won their opening group games.

Meanwhile, Warri Wolves will hope to prey on MFM FC on Tuesday.

Monday’s Results

Akwa United 1-0 Jigawa Golden Stars

Enyimba 0-3 Kano Pillars

Lobi Stars 1-1 Dakkada FC

Topscorers As At Day 4

2 Goals

Chikwere Chigaemezu – Heartland

Umar Abubakar – Katsina United

Imrana Musa – Kano Pillars

Idris Khamus – Kano Pillars

1 Goal

Ugochukwu Okpara – Heartland

Abubakar Yasir – Katsina United

Jibril Isah – Kano Pillars

Suleiman Shehu – Kano Pillars

Olatunbosun Lateef – Kwara United

Victor Michael – Dakkada FC

Sejugh Lortyer – Lobi Stars

Okiki Oghenoruese – Warri Wolves

Samuel Effiong – Akwa United

Emmanuel Edem – Dakkada FC

Chidiuto Emelda – Enyimba

Godswill Ndaeyo – Akwa United

Tuesday’s Fixtures

Rivers United Vs Adamawa United

Heartland Vs Katsina United

Warri Wolves Vs MFM FC

The Kaduna-born, former FC Taraba, Kada City and Delta Force gaffer takes over from Coach Caleb Esu whose contract expired at the end of last season and was not renewed by the club.

Speaking during a brief unveiling ceremony which was also used to present to the public Dakkada’s new home and away kits, at the Conference Room of the Nest of Champions, Uyo, Thursday, the Chairman of Dakkada Football Club, Coach Aniedi Dickson, expressed delight at being able to secure the services of the “experienced football tactician” and urged him to bring his technical and tactical savvy to the fore in the discharge of his duties in order to bring glory to the football club in the upcoming 2020/2021 Nigeria football league season.

Mr. Dickson who noted that the move was made so as to fortify the technical department of the team also posited that the new Head Coach will be given the “free hand” to operate and solicited the support of relevant stakeholders from within and outside the state to enable him succeed on his new assignment.

In his Goodwill Message, the Senior Special Assistant (Sports) to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Elder Paul Bassey, who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Sir Monday Uko, as Special Guest of Honour during the ceremony, enjoined the new Head Coach to leverage the warmth and hospitality which the state presents to succeed and advised him to run an all-inclusive tenure.

In his response, Coach Danlami said he was ready to immediately hit the ground running at his new job and pledged to work assiduously with members of his new technical crew to churn out positive on-and-off-the-field results.

Coach Danlami will be assisted by Coach Lawrence Kingsley, Coach Wisdom Etuk, Coach Sunday Etefia and Coach Otobong Ekanem.