March 27, (THEWILL) — Former Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), in the North Central, Comrade Terkura Atom, has attributed the relegation and poor outing of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi to the past Administrators, rather than the current management led by Terver Ikya.
Speaking against the backdrop of Lobi’s poor outing in the current Nigeria National League (NNL), Atom, who was one-time media officer at the club, accused the immediate past Administrators, especially Dr Phillip Nongu, of allegedly misappropriating funds meant to enhance the team.
“What accounts for Lobi Stars’ poor performance is monetary. Terver Ikya inherited it and is trying. For now, it is over, but by next season, if things are put in order, Lobi will return to the premier division”, Atom stated.
The former Sports Editor of The Voice newspaper urged the management of the club to start shopping for attackers to fortify the team for a better result next season, noting that it is not good for a team like Lobi not to score one single goal in any away match throughout the season.
The way out, Atom, called on the team manager, Mr Finbar Yamelu, put heads together to shop for a new coaching crew, like coach Agagbe, whom he alleged was chased away from the club and is doing well where he is at the moment.
He also recommended that Coach Emmanuel Orsar, who worked at the Eyimba Football club of Aba, could be of assistance to improve Lobi Stars’ chances next year if recruited.
On funding, the former SWAN national Welfare Officer commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for the releases but called for strict monitoring of spending for the purpose it was meant so as to avoid what happened during Nongu’s tenure.
He pointed out that the governor has upgraded facilities at the McCarthy stadium, Makurdi, where Lobi Stars is now playing home matches, but urged the governor to ensure completion of the Aper Aku ultra-modern stadium, preparatory for next year’s season.
Meanwhile, Lobi Stars Football, in a rescheduled match on Wednesday, defeated the visiting KADA football club of Kaduna at the McCarthy stadium, Makurdi, in a penalty kick when Dominic Foga was brought down in the eighteen-yard box.
In a post-match conference with Sports Writers, Lobi Stars’ head coach, John Onuh, said that although he is pleased with the performance of his side, the team lost several scoring chances, expressing regret for his inability to take the team back to the elite division at the end of this season.
“I took over the team at the end of the first round of the season. I had to work hard, and the players are also cooperating. We injected a few hands. We still need to make a lot of changes in the team so that we can prepare well and get the needed promotion back to the Nigeria Professional Football League”, Coach Onuh stated.
Lobi Stars, who are currently third on the log, played their last home match on Wednesday, while two matches are left to close the season.
