Lobi Stars players, officials test for COVID-19
Ahead of resumption of the new football season, Lobi Stars of Makurdi have become the first club in the Nigerian topflight to have their players and officials tested for COVID-19.
Daily Trust can report that players and officials of the Benue State owned football club had their samples taken Tuesday and Wednesday for COVID-19 test at the Benue state University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, in Makurdi.
Apart from the players and members of the technical crew, other management staff of the club led by the Vice-Chairman, Mike Idoko also had their samples taken.
The Media Officer of the club, Austin Tyowua quoted Idoko as saying the decision to have players, officials and management team of the club tested for the deadly virus is in line with the NCDC
Lobi Stars vice-chairman, Mike Idoko (L) and attacking midfielder, Sunday Ekleche having their samples taken for COVID-19 test on Tuesday at the Benue State Univeristy Teaching Hospital, Makurdi and LMC protocols followed for football management staff.” in preparation for the leagues in the country He also new season which is to resume. So what we commended the slated for September/ have done is to comply staff of the isolation October. in order to qualify to centre at Benue State
“As you are aware, take part in the league. University Teaching the NCDC and “This is compulsory Hospital for attending Presidential Task for everyone in Lobi to the players despite Force on COVID-19 Stars, beginning from the ongoing doctors’ have outlined health the players, officials, strike. protocols to be board members and Furthermore, Idoko said Lobi Stars have since put behind them the disappointment of last season, in which Lobi Stars were denied a continental ticket in controversial circumstances and are ready to challenge for all trophies this season.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF yesterday announced that it will officially sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Total E&P Nigeria Limited on September 15, 2020 for the sponsorship of Division 1 and 2 men basketball leagues.
The Secretary General of the NBBF, Afolabi-Oluwayemi Olabisi who made this known to members of the board said the landmark event will hold at the company's headquarters in Lagos.
Speaking on the partnership, the NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida said, "We are excited about this long term partnership targeted at the grassroots which is one of the core focuses of this federation.
"This is another fulfilment of some of the promises we made about creating platforms for raw talents to be nurtured while making basketball attractive to the corporate community to want to partner with us."
After critical evaluation of the initial two-year deal between the NBBF and Total, both parties felt it was expedient to continue with the harmonious relationship.
The sport federation also said the brief event sanctioned by the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare will be held in line with National Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) Covid-19 directives.