Lobi Stars F.C.

Lobi Stars

Full name	Lobi Stars Football Club
Nickname(s)	Suswan Boys
Founded	1981
Ground	Aper Aku Stadium Makurdi, Nigeria (Capacity: 15,000)
Chairman	Dominic Iorfa
Manager	John Zaki
League	Nigerian Premier League
2010/11	10th
Home colours Away colours

Lobi Stars Football Club (formerly known as Lobi Bank, BBL Hawks, and Hawks) is a soccer club based in Makurdi, Nigeria. They play in the Nigerian Premier League. The Stars' home is the 15,000 seat Aper Aku Stadium. For the 2012 season however they will play some games at Abuja's Old Parade Ground after they were denied use of Emmanuel Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala or Aper Aku Stadium.

History

In 1999, the Nigeria Football League was played in a new format which saw the top four teams squaring up in a knock out Super League at the National Stadium, Surulere. Lobi Stars therefore won the maiden edition of the Nigerian Super League under the managerial acumen of coach Godwin Koko Uwua. In 2005 they reached the finals of the domestic FA Cup where they lost to Enyimba. They finished the 2008-09 season with an official record of 13 wins 10 draws & 15 losses after winning a game on appeal against Enugu Rangers, avoiding the drop by one point. In August 2009,the Benue State government announced the club will be leased to private ownership, ending direct support from the state.

Achievements

• Nigerian Premier League: 1

1999

• Nigerian FA Cup: 1

2003

Performance in CAF competitions

• CAF Champions League: 1 appearance

2000 - Group Stage

• CAF Confederation Cup: 2 appearances

2004 - Second Round

2006 - Second Round

• WAFU Club Championship: 1 appearance

2010 - First Round

Current squad

As of February 5, 2012 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player - GK Friday Achimugu - GK John Lawrence - DF Ismaila Suleiman - DF Ezekiel Basi - MF Ezeh Otuosoro Daniel - MF Moses Bunde - MF Garba Lawal - MF Blessing Okardi - FW Agada Apeh Samuel - Loveth Akombo - Eseosa Igbinoba - Terna Ikpeen

No. Position Player FW David Tyavkase (Captain) - Zango Umar - Lazarus Chukwu - Tony Okpotu - Chimaobi Nwaogu - Moses Orkuma - Emma Ajia - Terka Mela - Mimi Ataedze - Moses Uvough - Audi Serki - Iorwuose {{Fs player|no=-|nat=Nigeria|name=Gabriel Adikwu|pos=}

Out on Loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player - MF Sam Ledor (at Gateway) - Emmanuel Agbo (at Gateway) - Luther James (at Gateway)

Coaching staff

• Technical Advisor - John Zaki
• Assistant Coach - Garba Lawal
• Technical Coach - Baldwin Bazuaye

Former players

• Sari Abacha
• Gbenga Ajala
• Robert Akaruye
• Terkimbi Akighir
• Amusan
• Timothy Anjembe
• Iorfa Apuruugh
• Moses Bala
• Sunday Chibuike
• Imadu Dooyum
• Kingsley Elvis
• Michael Eneramo
• Greg Etafia
• Sunday Ibeji

• Jeremiah Iorsue Kuhwa
• Lemmy Isah
• Emmanuel Issah
• Paul Kpuulgh
• Michael Lasisi Ayegba
• Bartholomew Ogbeche
• Christian Chukwu Okoro
• Kelechi Okoye
• Agada Apeh Samuel
• Terna Suswam
• Taye Taiwo
• Ode Thompson
• David Tyavkase
• John Zaki

Former coaches

• Shaibu Amodu
• Kosta Papić
• Godwin Uwua
• Salisu Yusuf
• Ufere Nwankwo
• Mitko Dobrev (2009-??)
• John Zaki

Sources

• Enyimba wins again at newswatchngr.com, accessed 3 January 2006.
• Lobi Management Face Sack! at CompleteSportsNigeria.com, accessed 27 Sept. 2008
• Iorfa vows to lift Lobi, as Board drops Kpakpor. Vanguard accessed 9 Nov. 2008
• Lobi okays Dobrev, places 10 on transfer
• Lobi Stars to be privatised next month (goal.com)
• Nwankwo joins Lobi Stars
• Lobi Stars sack Coach (compass news)
• The bizarre refereeing that nearly claimed lives at Aper Aku Stadium (Sunday Trust)