Lobi Stars Elevate Youth Team Players

Lobi Stars have promoted youth team players, Michael Anura and Suleimam Ochimana, to the first team as the Makurdi-based club step up preparations ahead of next season.

Dominic Iorfa's decision to establish a youth team for Lobi Stars in the Nationwide (Amateur) Division 1 League has continued to yield dividend following the elevation of Lobi Feeders players who shone brightly last season.

Scouted in Makurdi, the duo were part of the Lobi's development team managed by former club and Nigerian star, John Zaki, in the Nationwide Division 1 (Amateur) League.

The progress of both players underscores a tradition since club supremo and former Nigerian International, Dominic Iorfa, who played for QPR and Galatasaray established the youth team.

It's further learnt that Anura brings more options to Evans Ogenyi's squad as he can play at the right back and left back positions, while Ochimana operates from the heart of defence as a rookie centre back.

Anura arrived Lobi Feeders in 2010, while Ochimana got his chance in 2011.

Graduates of Lobi Feeders have made a huge impact in their debut in the Glo Premier League with three of them Stephen Eze, Victor Obinna (Jnr) and Suleiman Mohammed nominated in the Best Feeder Team Draft at the 2013 League Bloggers Awards (LBA) with Eze as eventual winner.

Interestingly, Lobi Feeders won the Best Youth Team category at the 2013 LBA.

Back in 2012, Lobi had five players from the development team in the starting eleven in the Cup final against Heartland and made history on match day 28 at Enugu Rangers as the first top flight team in Nigeria to dress 11 graduates of its youth team for a Glo Premier League tie.