Benue D-Gov receives new Lobi Stars coach

By Femi Atolagbe
|
Benue State Deputy Governor and Chairman, Lobi Stars football Club, Makurdi, Engr Benson Abounu, yesterday received in his office newly appointed Chief coach of the club, Gbenga Ogunbote and charged him and the club management to go forth and win laurels for the state.

Engr Abounu, who said the coach is the fulcrum of any team that determines its success or failure expressed  satisfaction with the choice of Ogunbote;  an experienced goal-getter.

He said in the late Solomon Ogbeide, who took Lobi Stars to CAF champions league,  the club had a good coach but lost him to the cold hands of death. He called on the management team to fully support and cooperate with the new  coach to excel and once again, go continental.

The Deputy Governor called for a change in the style of management of the club to engender better understanding and cooperation by all. He said meetings and consultations are important in management.

The Club chairman enthused that Lobi Stars can repeat and even surpass  the feat of last season, where it emerged the league champions and Nigeria sole representative in the CAF Champions league.

He assured Coach Ogunbote of the total support and cooperation of the government in his assignment of taking the club to the summit of Nigeria and African football.

Responding, the former Enugu Rangers coach thanked the club chairman for the warm welcome he has received. He said Lobi Stars is a big club with intimidating records, and that he wants to be part of the team as they break new grounds.

He expressed happiness that issues that tried to weigh down the club have now been settled, and promised to give his all to make the club number one in the country.

Earlier,  the club vice chairman,  Mike Idoko who presented Coach Ogunbote to the Deputy Governor had briefed him on the steps taken so far to resolve the minor  differences among board  members and the club management team. He expressed joy that all the issues have been amicably resolved and that the club was rearing to go