Two friends, Mike Idoko and Isaac Danladi have both summoned their armies to battle as Lobi stars host Nasarawa United at the Aper Aku stadium on Wednesday.
For the first time in a long while, this match will come with very little tension or anxiety as both teams know they are just playing to raise monies for victims of the recent flooding that claimed many lives and rendered several people homeless.
The devastating effect of this incident is already attracting local and international sympathy as individuals, government agencies, private organisations and so many others have sent in monies and relief materials to the victims.
Lobi stars and Nasarawa United were both dumped out of the Aiteo cup competition in the round of 64, and while Nasarawa United raked up 56 points to finish in a convincing fifth position on the NPFL log, Lobi stars on 54 points ended up in 7th position.
Both clubs administrators, have since put the disappointment of finishing the season empty handed behind them, preferring rather to focus more on the positives and plan ahead of the 2017/2018 season.
" The season was full of ups and downs, we had our great moments like when we won away Sunshine stars but we also failed to win a few games at home and that really affected our final placing on the log. Like i told my players, preparation for next season starts now. After the friendly match on Wednesday, the players will have a few weeks off to see their families and will return soon after our planned screening programme, to join up for real preparation for next season said Danladi who also doubles as chairman of the club owners association of Nigeria. We are looking forward to a better season, we want to give our fans and sponsors something to celebrate and hopefully a continental ticket will just be perfect Danladi concludes"
For his part, the vice chairman of Lobi stars FC Mike Idoko said the highpoint of the just concluded NPFL season to him, was his team's away win at Sunshine Stars also in Akure.
"If only we maintained the tempo after that win, we should be counting our blessings now. We played some of our best football this season and had a very potent strike force, in Eduwo and Okpotu. I am happy both are leading Nigeria's assault on West Africa at the ongoing WAFU Cup competition and i am confident they will make us all proud.
Okpotu achieved his goal of emerging the league's top scorer with 19 goals. That in itself, was a personal achievement. Our plan is to keep our best legs and sign a few more good players ahead of next season.
On Wednesday, we expect the fans to fill the Aper Aku stadium. The intention is to raise enough money from gate takings as proceeds from this match will all go to victims of the Benue flood. Benue state is still mourning this disaster, we have the government and people of the state solidly behind us and at a time like this, we must show that we deeply care Idoko concluded".
The charity match will kickoff at 4pm on Wednesday at the Aper Aku stadium in Makurdi.
No comments:
Post a Comment