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By Emma Njoku
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has assured Lobi Stars of Makurdi of maximum support to enable the team achieve optimum results in the coming football season.
He made the pledge on Monday, at the State House in Makurdi, when he received in audience the management of the club, led by the Deputy Governor, Barr Sam Ode, who doubles as the club’s chairman.
Governor Alia commended the Vice Chairman of the club, Dominic Iorfa for the personal sacrifices and efforts to keep the club afloat since he took over the day-to-day running of the team when it was on the brink of relegation. He assured of his administration’s support in ensuring a conducive environment that would help them to record the needed results for the good of the state. The governor reiterated his commitment to empowering the youths through sports, particularly football.
In his response, chairman of the club and deputy governor, Barr Ode, briefed the governor on the club’s preparations, so far, ahead of the new season and stressed the need to address the challenges faced by the team urgently before the commencement of the new league season scheduled to kick off on August 26, 2023. Ode assured the governor of the club’s commitment to do the state proud by winning laurels in the coming football season.
Also, responding to the governor’s speech, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the club, Iorfa thanked the governor for granting them audience and corroborated the deputy governor by assuring that Lobi Stars will make the state proud in the new season.
Iorfa, who was accompanied on the visit by the Director of Sports, Philip Nongo, highlighted some of his achievements since he assumed office to include the renovation of facilities at the Mccarthy Stadium; rescuing of Lobi Stars from relegation and qualifications for the NPFL Super 6 playoffs and Naija Super 8, as well as prioritisation of a homegrown policy for indigenous talents to play for the Lobi Stars, amongst others.
Iorfa commended the governor for making the welfare of workers in the state his priority, especially through prompt payment of salaries. The high point of the visit was when the ex-international player presented three sets of jerseys to the governor.
