NPFL-LBA names nominees for August
Four players and four coaches have been shortlisted to vie for the
Player and Manager awards for the month of August in the Nigeria
Professional Football League (NPFL) – League Bloggers Awards (LBA).
FC Ifeanyiubah’s Rafael Everton, Ladan Bosso of El-Kanemi Warriors,
Solomon Ogbeide of Sunshine Stars and Enyimba’s Paul Aigbogun make up
a strong field of trainers who are in the running for the manager’s
award for the month under review.
Aigbogun and Bosso guided their clubs, Enyimba and El-Kanemi to
unbeaten runs last month and on the back of their teams’ performance
squeeze their way into the shortlist for managers.
It is a second successive shortlist for Everton in the manager’s
category and this time, he was able to lead FC Ifeanyiubah from the
dugout to win in the derby against Enugu Rangers and then versus Wikki
Tourists and pulled off a win on the road at Warri Wolves though he
saw his side start the month of August losing two-nil at Plateau
United.
Ogbeide returns among the shortlists again after making an appearance
in the month of June. The Sunshine Stars gaffer watched and tutored
his men to garner eight points from five matches including a 0-0 draw
at Enyimba.
NPFL top scorer, Godwin Obaje of Wikki Tourists as well as Samad
Kadiri of Sunshine Stars, FC Ifeanyiubah’s Chijioke Alakwe and Ibrahim
Ajani of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) make up the list to compete
for the player’s award for August.
Obaje scored three goals, which is the most goals by any individual in
the month of August. However, all of his goals were scored in home
games against MFM FC and Lobi Stars which earned them four points
while Alakwe scored a goal each in the derby against Rangers and at
Warri Wolves in which FC Ifeanyiubah notched up all six points.
Samad got himself among the mentions to tussle for the August award
after scoring in Sunshine Stars’ 2-0 win over Niger Tornadoes at home
and in their 2-3 loss at El-Kanemi where he was a handful for the
hosts in late August.
Ajani has been one of the mainstay at 3SC this season and in August he
showed why he is an important member of the Ibadan club when he netted
twice. He scored a last-gasp equalizer at Ikorodu United to help 3SC
earn a point and then scored once in the 4-0 bashing of Kano Pillars.
The winners for the manager and player’s awards will be announced
later this week.
AUGUST NPFL-LBA NOMINEES
MANAGERS
Rafael Everton (FC Ifeanyiubah)
Ladan Bosso (El-Kanemi Warriors)
Solomon Ogbeide (Sunshine Stars)
Paul Aigbogun (Enyimba)
PLAYERS
Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists)
Samad Kadiri (Sunshine Stars)
Chijioke Alakwe (FC Ifeanyiubah)
Ibrahim Ajani (3SC)
*LBA Press Release
