Iorfa Replies Gombe United Skipper, Urges NPFL Clubs to be Graceful in Defeat.

Lobi Stars Vice-Chairman Dominic Iorfa has charged clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to be graceful in defeat and as well give credit to worthy winners.

Iorfa was responding to claims by the captain of Gombe United Alhaji Kwaringa that the referee frustrated the ‘Desert Scorpions’ with a red card each to one of their defenders and strikers in the 2-0 loss to the Enugu-based outfit.

He said: “I read with disappointment the report credited to the captain of Gombe United that they lost to my team because of two red cards. In the first place the other red card was given to the coach of the team and not a striker as claimed by him.

“The red card to the Gombe defender was not contested by even his team because they all saw how he elbowed my player. It was a straight red card and they all knew it. That was why none of them protested.

“Instead of given flimsy excuses, I want clubs in the league to always give credit to whom it is due. Teams must be magnanimous even in defeat. Gombe should be lucky that they did not concede up to five goals. They were overwhelmed in all departments of the game.”

Dominic Iorfa.
Dominic Iorfa.

Iorfa said he had expected Lobi Stars to be credited for their five-game unbeaten run in which they’ve only conceded once.

“Sometimes we should pause to appreciate other people,” he added. “Lobi Stars have played the past five matches without suffering any defeat. We conceded only one goal in five matches and to me this is no mean achievement.

“We defeated Nembe City 3-0, drew 0-0 with Warri Wolves, beat Kaduna United 2-1, held Kwara United 0-0 and humbled Gombe United 2-0.

“With this performance, I think we deserve some kudos even from our unrepentant critics.”

Lobi Stars will be away at El Kanemi Warriors as the Glo Premier League enters Week 36 on Wednesday. The club sits seventh in the 20-team NPFL log with 49 points from a possible 105.