Lobi Stars to lay off 20 players

Tama Aondofa, the Vice Chairman of Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, says the club will undergo a major restructuring before the resumption of the 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in April.

Aondofa who spoke in Awka on Sunday, said they had a good away match with Rangers International FC, at Awka Township Stadium on Saturday but lost to tactical indiscipline.

It was reported that Rangers beat the Makurdi side 5-3 in their Week 19 encounter at their new temporary home ground in Awka.

Rangers scored three goals in the first half and another two after the break while Lobi netted all their three goals in the second half.

The Vice Chairman said though they lost the game, it was one of their best matches in recent times.

According to him, “the outcome was not what we expected in terms of the result, like somebody said, we scored the eight goals in the game, we gave Rangers the goals they scored against us, including the penalty.

“The three goals of the first half was virtually donated to our opponents because of tactical indiscipline, there were so many back passes in front of the goal, but in the second half we fought back and scored three goals but we ran out of time.

“We will go back to the drawing board and look at our players recruitment, we will flush the system and a number of players who have not shown the desired commitment have been identified,” he said.

He said “about 15 to 20 players have been lined penciled down to move on. They will be let off and equivalent number who is doing well in the league will join almost immediately.”

Aondofa said Lobi Stars FC will return in the second half of the League with a better squad and zeal, saying the club would no longer condone the lack of commitment shown by some players.

He also said officiating of league games is getting better but the issue of buying of, and betting on games had to be addressed.

“Refereeing is getting better but some things are still wrong. People are still buying games, betting in the matches, it will take a little more time for the League Management Company to clean up the system,” he said.

Lobi Stars finished the first stanza on 19 points from five wins and four draws from 19 matches played (Courtesy, excluding headline, NAN)