Ahead of the start of the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League season, the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom has waded into the management crisis that hampered the progress of the club throughout last season.
Although Lobi Stars were nominated by the LMC to represent the country in the CAF Champions League after the 2019 season was brought to a sudden stop by the league organisers, the club’s campaigns in the continent and the domestic league were overshadowed by crisis.
The vice-chairman who is the de facto chairman of the club, Mike Idoko was allegedly running a ‘one man show’ as other members of the management committee accused him of undermining their appointments by the state government.
Worst hit was the Team Manager of the club who for inexplicable reasons could not travel with the team for their return leg clash with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
However, Daily Trust has gathered that to avoid further crisis and also reposition the club, the Benue State governor recently convened a meeting of the management committee where every member was given the opportunity to air his grievances.
Our reporter gathered that after listening to the aggrieved parties, the governor stated the need for clearly defined roles to be assigned to club officials.
He, therefore, set up a committee made up of prominent sports stakeholders in the state to draw up an organogram for the smooth running of the club.
The Lobi Stars restructuring committee was given two weeks within which to report back to the governor for further action before the commencement of the 2019/2010 NPFL season.
The Team Manager of Lobi Stars, Barnabas Imenger said it was a fruitful discussion which proved clearly that Governor Ortom is indeed commitment to Lobi Stars football club.
He also thanked the governor for finding time out of his tight schedule to hold the peace finding meeting with the management of the club.
“We had series of issues which were threatening peace in the club but with the intervention of His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom, there is better understanding among us.
“Very soon, we shall submit the new structure for the club as demanded by His Excellency. Once everyone is allowed to play his or her role, I believe there will be lasting peace and progress in the club,” he said.
