Iorfa: Lobi Stars Using Constant Blackmail, Match Fixing Allegations To Tarnish My Image

Iorfa: Lobi Stars Using Constant Blackmail, Match Fixing Allegations To Tarnish My Image

Precious Oham

Ex-Nigeria international Dominic Iorfa has come out to shed light on the constant blackmail and match-fixing allegations to tarnish his image by the management of Lobi Stars, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In a statement, the ex-international said the unsportsmanlike blackmail and utterances of the current management of the club is capable of damaging the name of Benue State in sports.

The statement reads: "Our dear Benue State is about to be thrown into disrepute due to inept and unfit leadership of the current management of Lobi Stars.

 "Recently, the management were called by the State House of Assembly where they embarrassingly told Assembly members that the past management spiritualized the activities of the club.

"How can you have a Reverend Father as the Chief Servant of the state, and you accused the past management of spiritualizing your predicament, which has gone viral globally?

"They even went further to declare that the players they met on ground were loyal to the past management despite the huge amount of money given to them by the Executive Governor to sign new players and start afresh.

 "As a reputable club in Nigeria football, the unfounded claims of match fixing, sabotage, discord and animosity been planted by the management against the current players, past management, and technical crew is regrettably sad.

"Regrettably, the even went ahead and accused me that match fixing started during my time. The question is, how can I do such against my team while I was getting the results. Was I doing match fixing to lose matches or win matches because the team was getting good results?

More importantly, are they now engaging in match fixing to lose matches or what?

"My reputation as one of the top five football administrators in the country includes been an NFF Board Member, contested for NFF elections and came second to Amaju Pinnick, which was held in Warri, Delta State.

"Ever since the current management took over the helms of leadership, they have consistently shifted blame on me in every aspects saying _: ' _Iorfa is doing this, Iorfa is doing that, Iorfa is doing this against us not to succeed'.

Meanwhile, football is a result oriented activity and the current management keep giving excuses that they are not winning matches because they are not playing in Makurdi as if this is the first time Lobi Stars are playing away from home.

"In the past years, Lobi Stars have played in Jalingo Taraba State for two seasons, they have played in Bauchi State for two seasons including their continental matches. They played in Jos, Plateau State and Lafia in Nasarawa State and results were coming from these venues under my leadership as the club's Vice-Chairman/CEO.

 "During my time of playing outside Makurdi, Benue State, Lobi Stars would have been champions if not the six points deduction to Nembe City in 2012/2013 season.

We also ended up playing two FA Cups finals during that time of playing away from home.

 "To my surprise, they have been lying to the public and not telling the truth on the happenings at Lobi Stars at the moment. How can the players be motivated when they cannot handle their welfare?

This present management owes the players over 18 match bonuses, two months salaries and their salary increment from July 2024 including their sign-on fees (paper money) where some players were paid and some were not paid while some of the key players were aware.

"When the players asked about their outstanding salaries, the current Chairman of the club, Philip Nongu told them that the former Chairman knew that he was going to be sacked and that's why I increased performance-based salaries. How can the management do such while the former Chairman was sacked in September, 2024 and the new contract increment was done in July 2024.

 "I am calling on the public to disregard the allegations against me by the current management and for taking the club to relegation, a feat only three club's has - Lobi Stars, Rangers and Enyimba."