By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has donated four new vehicles, a 36 seater bus for the players, a Hilux jeep, and two 18 seater buses for the technical crew to Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi, to ease the transportation challenges of players and officials of the club.
The Governor donated the Government House Makurdi, on Wednesday, when the players and officials of the team led by its Vice Chairman, Mr. Dominic Iorfa, paid a courtesy call on the governor, to appreciate him for the support the team has enjoyed under his administration.
The governor who appreciated the club for its wonderful performances in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) so far this season, said the excellent results the team has achieved, have put smiles on the faces of many Benue people.
The governor urged the team to maintain the momentum throughout the season, promising to ensure that the Aper Aku stadium is upgraded to an international standard before the end of the 2023/2024 Nigerian Professional League Season, to enable the team to start playing their home matches in Makurdi.
He described the crop of players in Lobi Stars as the best, promising to continue to provide the team with a lot of cushions as a form of motivation.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club, Barr. Sam Ode, thanked the governor for the enormous support he has given the club, insisting that the support is the reason the team is doing well in the ongoing NPFL Season.
He appreciated the Vice Chairman, Mr Dominic Iorfa, for the work and energy he has put into the club, describing him as a sports enigma, despite all the scepticism surrounding the club at the beginning of the season, has propelled the club to the top, challenging for top honours in the country.
Also in their separate remarks, the Vice Chairman of the Club, Mr. Dominic Iorfa and the Club captain, Daniel Atsaka, while congratulating the governor over his Supreme Court victory, said the club has enjoyed the best welfare packages so far under his administration, saying the players and officials have not taken that for granted as reflected in the performances of the team.
In a short remark while receiving the vehicles, the Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Creativity, Rt. Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, thanked the governor for the donation of the vehicles and for showing his love for sports and creativity, with a promise to ensure the team makes judicious use of the vehicles.
