LBA shortlists Obaje, Maikaba, Ogbeide for April award

The League Bloggers Awards (LBA), yesterday named eight nominees in the running for the manager and player’s awards for the month of April based on performances in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Last season’s top scorer Godwin Obaje, with FC Ifeanyiubah, headlines the list of players vying for honours in the month under review. Lobi Stars striker Kingsley Eduwo, Enugu Rangers winger Osas Okoro and Plateau United left-back Daniel Itodo complete the nominees for the player’s award.

In the running for the manager award are Yaw Preko of FC Ifeanyiubah, Solomon Ogbeide of Lobi Stars, Akwa United’s Abdu Maikaba and Chukwuma Agbo of Rangers.

Maikaba, Preko and Ogbeide led their teams to unbeaten spells. Agbo oversaw four matches for Rangers in May, including two rearranged games, in which they won two, drew one and lost the other.

Agbo helped Rangers to home wins over Plateau United and Gombe United, after an earlier draw in the first meeting with Gombe United at their Pantami Stadium. But Agbo’s May with Rangers ended in humiliating fashion as they were smashed in a southeast derby by 4-0 at Abia Warriors.

Preko masterminded two wins in two for FC Ifeanyiubah. They won 3-0 at 3SC and defeated Kano Pillars 2-0 in Nnewi while Maikaba guided Akwa United to a 0-0 draw at MFM before returning to the Nest of Champions to win 3-0 against ABS FC.

It was a sweet return for Ogbeide to face his former employers Sunshine Stars at the Akure Stadium where he helped Lobi to a 1-0. His team were ruthless in their other game in May when they smashed 3SC 3-0 in Makurdi.

Obaje was one of those who masterminded a 3-0 humiliation of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Ibadan on resumption of the NPFL after the first round. He scored the first of the three goals for FC IfeanyiUbah.