INSIDE THE CLUBS

Lobi Stars
Vice chairman of the club, Dominic Iorfa, has declared that after surviving relegation last season, the Makurdi-based club is moving to make sure that it does not suffer same fate when the 2009/2010 season begins. He opened up that the club begin its preparation soon by recruiting some players to strengthen the side. Apart from preparing the club for the new season, there are reports that the club is being put up for privatisation by the Benue State government.

Gombe Utd
Events at the club have been at its lowest ebb in the run-up to the close of the season. After failing to progress into the group stage of the Federation Cup (formerly known as the FA Cup), head coach at the side, Ben Duamlong, is looking forward to next season and believes that his team has learnt from the immediate past season. Duamlong said: “Last season was like a learning process for us and we did not do well at all. But we will be looking forward to the new season and hope that what we have learnt from the previous season can be of help.”

Bayelsa United
The management of the club has declared that it would bankroll the burial expenses of its late captain, Abiel Tabor. Daily Independent understands that the funeral date for the deceased player, who was killed on June 14 by armed robbers has been fixed for July 3 by his family. Chairman of the club, Victor Bari Bote Rumson, disclosed that the club has liaised with members of Tabor’s family to plan for a befitting burial. He said: “Abiel until his death was our player and we cannot at this point afford to stay away or exclude ourselves from whatever plans his family are making concerning his burial arrangements. The club management is ready to foot the bill for the burial and also we will make sure that we pay every kobo of his entitlement to his family because he served us well by bringing joy to the faces of our fans.”

Kano Pillars
The CAF Champions League campaigner has further paid another 30 per cent of signing-on fees to its players after it had earlier paid 50 per cent. The chairman of the club’s management committee, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, disclosed to the official website of the Premier League club. Babangida added that the club’s coaches, Malik Jabir and Baba Ganaru, have been paid the balance of their signing-on fees as agreed in the contract signed with the duo. The total sum of N30 million was expended on the exercise of paying the signing-on fees of the players and coaches, according to the former Premier League champion. He promised that the management would pay the balance of 20 per cent by the end of the CAF Champions League season. In another development, the club management is trying to engage a corporate body underwrite some of its bills, as it begins its campaign in the CAF Champions League. The club is left with just N20 million in its account, which would not be enough to foot its bill in Africa’s elite club competition.

Akwa United
With its relegation still subject to scrutiny after a panel of inquiry was launched by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) to investigate Zamfara United and Kaduna United over allegations of match-fixing, heads are beginning to roll at the troubled club. Daily Independent understands that four key players of the club were suspended indefinitely by the management of the side for what it described as “anti-club activities.” The names of the players were not made available yet since the management is still conducting its inquest to ascertain if the unnamed quartet had accomplices in their acts.

Warri Wolves
After missing out of the continent in the closing stages of last season, the Delta State government through the Delta State Sports Commission has unveiled plans for the club’s pre-season arrangement. According to the chairman of the state sports commission, Pinnick Amaju, the side would be embarking on tours of France and Holland to prepare for the 2009/2010 season. He said the tour of the two European nation would expose the players to world-class facilities and allow them play against top clubs. Further details of the tour was yet to be made available, as the club management is believed to be trying to secure visas for its players and officials. Twenty-five players and five officials are expected to make the trip to France and Holland.