Dipreye Teibowei, the Bayelsa United Head Coach, on Sunday in Jos expressed reservations with the officiating of his side’s Match Day 4 fixture against hosts Lobi Stars of Makurdi.
Teibowei, immediately after they lost 0-3 in the 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Group B game, stated that there were question marks against the match’s officiating.
“Even though Lobi Stars scored clean goals, the officiating has a lot of question marks as one side was favoured above the other.
“How can you say you want to improve the standard of the league and the referees are still officiating this way?” he said.
The coach said the league would not get better if officiating did not improve.
“If we continue like this, our standard will never improve,” he stated..
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lobi Stars were dominant against the Yenagoa-based visitors in the match played at Zaria Road Stadium in Jos.
None of the clubs was able to outwit the other in the first half which ended goalless.
The breakthrough, however, came for the hosts in the 67th minute when Kumaga Suur scored to give them the lead, before making it a brace for himself in the 77th minute.
The match was put beyond the Bayelsa United’s reach when Abba Umar scored from 25 yards to make it 3-0 in the 84th minute.
Lobi Stars’ Chief Coach, Baba Ganaru, later expressed happiness that his side achieved their target which was to grab the maximum points from the fixture.
Ganaru said that his young side was gradually adapting to his philosophy which is anchored on discipline and character.
“In the first half, the boys were jittery and slightly disorganised. But after I spoke with them during the break, they were more focused, patient and more direct in the second half.
“Their patience and resilience paid off and the much-needed goals came,” he said.
NAN reports that Lobi Stars currently play their home matches in Jos, after the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi did not meet up with NPFL standards for the 2022/2023 league season.(NAN)
