The management of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, led by its Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dominic Iorfa has given its teeming supporters hope that the club may play its home matches at the Aper Aku stadium, Makurdi by mid-season.
The management was also piqued with negative write-ups trending the social media, with the aim of misleading its supporters that the decision for Lobi Stars to play their home matches in Jos, Plateau State was a deliberate act.
In a statement signed by the Media Team of the club and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Friday, the club explained that it was not its making, but the sole decision of the Interim Management Commitee (IMC) of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) to move the team to Jos, due to some facilities that did not meet its requirements.
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However, the club in the statement noted that since work has commenced at the Aper Aku stadium in earnest, it was likely that Lobi Stars would play its home matches in Makurdi by the end of the matches for the abridged League, which ends in May, 2023.
The statement read in part, that, “The IMC mandated its inspection team to stadiums across the country preparatory to the kick off of the 2022/2023 NPFL football season. Their recommendation was that, Aper Aku stadium is not suitable to host NPFL matches. According to them, it did not meet the required standard of FIFA/CAF club licensing.
“The Management under the Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dominic Iorfa, had put in a lot of efforts like the renovation of the VIP/State box at the stadium which is now wearing a new look preparatory to host matches before the unfortunate ban (incident) took place.
“For this reason, the matches for the abridged League (which ends in May, 2023) has to take place and Lobi Stars FC was asked to choose any venue of their choice across the country and it is unfortunate that there are only five suitable stadiums approved by the IMC in the whole of the 19 northern states.”
Therefore the management noted that “It is unfortunate the decision by the IMC came not long before the commencement of the NPFL season. There was no time to fix those things before the League kick-off.
“Governor Ortom, who was informed of the decision, sent his Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Teryima Nguher, to verify the claims and advise appropriately, which he did.
“The commissioner visited the Stadium in December 2022 and equally took his feedback to the governor.”
Management observed out that, “While we appreciate the concern from genuine supporters of the club, some mischief makers are all out to drag the name of the Governor against the management which is totally unacceptable.
“The general public must note that, apart from Lobi Stars, the IMC hammer has fallen on other club venues across the country.
“For instance, Kwara United, Nasarwa United, Niger Tornados and Rangers International of Enugu” are also affected, the team pointed out.
