Sports

Lobi Stars in capable hands under the watchful eyes of Dr. Phillip Nongu

Published

6 months ago

October 1, 2024

By Pius Idoko

It is the dawn of a new era, and a new lease of life has come for all lovers and supporters of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi, as the newly appointed chairman of the club, Comrade Dr. Phillip Nongu has expressed his deepest desire and the willingness to turn around the fortunes of the club from being an average sailing, or a mid table team to becoming a more competitive club in the country.

Dr. Phillip said this while speaking with sports journalists, at the FIFA goal project on Saturday afternoon in Abuja.

In spite of the fact that there were challenges on ground when he was assigned to take over the role as the new chairman of the club, Dr. Phillip believes his 15 years wealth of experience serving as the secretary of football in Benue state will be key in charting a new course for Lobi Stars.

On assumption, his first bold step following his prompt enthronement was to clear the backlog of some unpaid salaries of players and other staff which was taking it’s toll on the general performance of the club.

That being said, it is believed that the players are now in good spirit, and will shore up their ante with an improved performance in churning out good results in the league, while the board will also work together and get all stakeholders involved in their bid to drive the club in attaining new heights in Nigerian football.

“Our boys are in good spirit, when I took over, they had challenges of three months backlog of salaries, so their morale was down, but now that we have started paying, I think they’ll up their game”

“For the club itself, gone are the days when we struggle around relegation zone at times, although I can’t do it alone, we have to carry all the stakeholders along, since I took over, we are planning to meet with SWAN, the Referees, the fans and our supporters and the rest of them”

“Yes the appointment is a challenge but am not a new person in the football cycle, and am not new to the terrain, am coming in with some challenges we have at hand, but with time, we will be able to excel”

Comrade Dr. Phillip Nongu, is the Director of sports, Benue state, who also served as the secretary of football in Benue state for 15 years, and a premier league match commissioner at present.

He was appointment to take over the reigns from the former club chairman, Dominic Iorfa, two days before the commencement of the new NPFL season, and all lovers of football in the state have heave a sigh of relief, and are wishing and rooting for him to succeed being at the helm of affairs.

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Sports

NSC Hails Nigerian Badminton Team as Eniola Bolaji Strikes Gold, Men’s Doubles Team Secures Bronze in Spanish International Tourney

Published

54 mins ago

March 17, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has applauded the Nigerian contingent at the 2025 Spanish Parabadminton International, after another impressive outing that saw the team secure a gold and a bronze medal in Toledo, Spain, on Sunday.

Paralympic medallist Eniola Bolaji continued her dominance, winning her second gold medal in two weeks with a commanding 2-0 (21-7, 21-10) victory over Turkey’s Halime Yildiz in the women’s SL3 final. Bolaji had won gold a week earlier at the Spanish International in Victoria, Spain.

In the men’s SL4 doubles event, Nnana Jeremiah and Eze Chukwuebuka delivered a strong performance, battling their way to a well-deserved bronze medal.

NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, commended the athletes for making Nigeria proud and praised the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, led by Francis Orbih, for ensuring the team’s optimal performance on the international stage.

“These athletes have once again showcased the resilience and talent that define Nigerian sports. Their success is a lucid indication of their hard work and the strategic leadership we demand from the Badminton Federation and other sports federations. We are proud of them and remain committed to supporting their journey to greater heights,” Dikko said.

Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, emphasized that the achievements align with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of strengthening grassroots sports while ensuring Nigeria competes favorably on the global stage.

“As part of our mandate under President Tinubu’s administration, we are committed to developing talent from the grassroots and supporting our elite athletes to bring home international laurels. The NSC will continue to back the strategic vision of sports federations as we work towards building a strong and sustainable sports ecosystem,” Olopade stated.

Since the National Sports Commission leadership took office, Nigerian contingents have continued to impress internationally including international successes in cricket and basketball recorded thus far. The NSC leadership stated that no stone will be left unturned until Nigerian sports reaches its full potentials.

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