The General Coordinator of Nigeria’s foremost Pre-season Tournament Gold Cup, Tunde Shamsudeen has congratulated Lobi Stars Football Club on their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title success.
The Pride of Benue, who were Gold Cup champions in 2016 and runners up in 2017 were confirmed as champions of the league Thursday night after the League Management Company (LMC) and Club Owners Association agreed to end the season after Match Day 24.
“I want to express my delight that Lobi Stars been a former champion of the Gold Cup Tourney has been declared winner of the NPFL Title,” said Shamsudeen.
“It goes to show how the pre-season tourney adds value to teams who take part in the tourney, irrespective of who ends up as champion.
“Joyous that the Gold Cup Tourney wrote history with the club, as under the management board led by astute football administrator par excellence, Mike Idoko, Lobi Stars broke the 19yrs no league title jinx.
“Idoko, a fine gentleman has proven to his critics and Nigerians that he’s no baby when it comes to football management. His pedigree and track record with Sunshine Stars of Akure also speaks volume having managed the team as Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) as Executive Director, as the Owena Waves got to the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation s Cup and Champions League respectively.
“Congratulations to the coaching staff, players and fans of the club as I want to wish them well in the next edition of the CAF Champions League.”
Meanwhile, Shamsudeen hinted further that: “We’re at advance level talks with the Benue State Government through Lobi Stars management as regards hosting the next Gold Cup in Makurdi, having according them the hosting right after last edition that was staged in Ilorin, Kwara State.”
Recall 2016 edition runner-up Lagos based, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries FC and Enyimba International of Aba secure continental tickets after participating in the Gold Cup, which remains Nigeria’s most prestigious pre-season football Tournament for clubs in the domestic league.
