Moses Yanmar: Yobe Stars will use FC IfeanyiUbah to warn other clubs
IV Yobe Desert Stars young defender, Moses Yanmar has said his newly promoted side will get a good result in their opening match against FC IfeanyiUbah and also send warning signals to other clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League. The former Lo
HLike most Nigerian players, I started right from my primary school days to secondary school. I played for some youth clubs in Gboko town where I grew up before moving over to join Lobi Stars Feeder team. In 2013/2014 season, the then vice-chairman of Lobi Stars, Dominic Iorfa identified my potentials and promoted me to the senior team. So it was in the same year that I made my debut for the club against Kwara United in a home match at the Emmanuel Akume Atongo stadium Katsina-Ala.
When one of my coaches in Lobi Stars, coach Jupiter was leaving the club to join Yobe, he took me along. So I joined the club when they were still in amateur one. I was among the players who brought them to the Nigeria National League that is the professional league. When they qualified for the NNL, they brought in Aminu who had coached Giwa FC. He was the one who guided Yobe Desert Stars back to the Nigeria Professional Football League. So this is my third season in Yobe. I am happy that I have become an integral member of the team.
My experience in the club is very okay. I have no problem with the environment and the people. I have a strong will so it is always easy for me to adapt to any condition. The management of the club too is doing its best to make us comfortable. I am an adult so if the place were not safe enough for me I would have moved.
To be honest with you, my mother was highly against it. She did not support my decision to go to Yobe but I assured her that nothing would happen to me. She kept calling me to find out how I was doing. After sometime, she relaxed a bit. And when I returned home at the end of my first season and she saw that I was okay, she gave me her blessings.
Like most Nigerians, they are passionate about football. So I can tell you that the people of Yobe State beginning from the governor of the state are lovers of football. They are really happy that we qualified the team for the NPFL. The government is giving the club all the necessary support. There is no contradiction. What I told you about government support is the truth. What really happened is that we did not get the notice for the Super 4 in good time and before the management could secure money for the trip to Lagos, it was late. You know there are procedures to follow before money is released to the club. The money came but it was a bit late. We therefore decided to concentrate on our preparations for the opening match against FC IfeanyiUbah. Our target is to first maintain our place in the topflight. We are not going to be the whipping team of the league management of the club to deal with. Our role as players is to concentrate on preparations for take-off of the season. We are focused on our first away match against FC IfeanyiUbah.
How ready is Yobe Desert Stars to face big money spenders, FC IfeanyiUbah on Sunday in Nnewi?
It is not going to be an easy match but I believe with God we shall come out with something. We have so much respect for them but we shall use the match to send a warning to other big clubs in the league. If they underrate us, they will pay heavily.
I believe in the present squad. Our coach Baba Ganaru has beefed up the team with players who have been tested and can be trusted to deliver. I can tell you that experienced players like former Nasarawa United winger, Philip Auta, former Kano Pillars attacking midfielder, Shagari Mohammed, former Niger Tornadoes star, Aliyu and a host of others have joined us. Yobe Stars are now stronger than before.
Our target is to first maintain our place in the topflight. We are not going to be the whipping team of the league. Teams that are targeting points from us would be surprised by what we are going to do. It is not going to be easy but we would give a good account of ourselves.
We are aware of this and that is what we shall do everything humanly possible to avoid. By the special grace of God, our story is not going to be like that of Gombe United, ABS and Remo Stars. We shall work hard to maintain our place in the NPFL.
You said your first match in the NPFL was against Kwara United in 2013 when you played for Lobi Stars. How was the feeling like?
It was a wonderful feeling but I must confess that I was tensed up. I had not played at that level before so naturally I was a bit jittery but after like 15 minutes I settled into the match. I was given the necessary encouragement by players like Anthony Agbaji who is now the captain of Lobi Stars. He kept talking to me and I began to play my normal game. It was a special moment for me and my family.
I chose to play football because my elder sister, Mnena inspired me. Before she got married, she was a football player. So I took after her. As a matter of fact, she bought my first football boot.
I am a defender so my role model was John Terry who was the captain of Chelsea. I wanted to be like him so I studied the way he played.
Playing for one’s country is the dream of every good player so it is my dream to play for the Super Eagles. It is one of my dreams that I hope to pursue vigorously. I want to do very well in the NPFL so that I can be invited to the national team. I know that with God all things are possible. I am ready to wait but I will be happy if it happens soon.