According to history Lobi Stars was founded in 1981 by the Benue State sports council, the club was renamed Benue Breweries Limited Football club, when the state-owned Breweries acquired the club in 1985. The name of the club was change again when state-owned Lobi Bank acquired the club in 1990 and named it Lobi Bank Football Club.
In 1999, the Nigeria Football League was played in a new format which saw the top four teams squaring up in a knock out Super League at the National Stadium, Surulere. Lobi Stars won the maiden edition of the Nigerian Super League under coach Godwin Koko Uwua’s management. Lobi Stars won its first and only FA Cup title in 2003 after beating Sharks FC of Port-Harcourt.
They also reached 2005 finals of the domestic FA Cup where they lost to Enyimba.Ever since the finals, the club struggle for silverware both in the domestic and the continental level.In August 2009, the Benue State government announced the club will be leased to private ownership, ending direct support from the state, that never materialised.
Lobi finished 3rd in Glo premier league in 2012. They also reached the Federation Cup final that season but lost to Heartland FC of Owerri.The club has been in control by many vice- chairman since inception.
Like every other club, success is the primary aim of any organizations or club. When the leadership of the institution can not deliver, there is need for a change the current management board under the watch dog of Mr Dominic Iorfa has given us many reason to seek for new experience.
The vice-chairman Mr Dominic Iorfa who led Lobi Stars to their first and only FA Cup triumph in 2003 when they defeated defunct Sharks of Port-Harcourt 2-0 in Kaduna and has been mandated to rescue the club from relegation in the 2022 NPFL season.
Speaking to Daily Trust on his re-appointment, Iorfa said he was honoured by the confidence reposed in him by the state government.He also called on all the relevant stakeholders to join hands with him to take Lobi Stars out of the woods.
“I thank the government for finding me worthy of this appointment. This assignment is a tough one but by the Special grace of God, I am not going to disappoint those who trusted me with the onerous task.“Desperate times require desperate measures. I am going to swing into action immediately because this is familiar terrain for me. This is what I know how to do best.“However, I can not do it alone. I, therefore, call on all genuine football stakeholders in Benue to contribute their quota for us to succeed in this rescue operation,” he said.
Iorfa was first appointed Lobi Stars vice-chairman in 2001 and was in the saddle for nearly 14 years, winning one Football Association (FA) Cup and playing in the finals of the same competition in 2005, 2012 and 2016.He also led Lobi Stars to finish third in the 2012/2013 league season behind Kano Pillars and Rangers which fetched the club a CAF Confederation Cup ticket.
The former Super Eagles and Queens Park Rangers of England striker then stepped down from his position in 2016 after nearly 14 years to go down in history as one of the longest-serving club chairmen in Nigeria.
As of 16 April, 2023.It is so sad to state that with the current level of abysmal performance and a disgraceful top 6 finish in the super six championship playoffs, one can’t help but ask for fresh faces with the modern experience to lead the club to silverware.
Let it be known that apart from the awful performance and trophy draught spell of Mr Dominic Iorfa in the fifteen years at the helm of affairs, there are many other issues of unpaid salaries to players, match bonus,coaching staff, youth academy which led to the resignation of the manager over 5 months unpaid salaries.
This is the club that the state government spent over 45million Naira annually to fund and support the activities, aside the revenue it generate.
It is high time the state government look into the matter to reposition the club and put smiles on faces of sport loving fans of the state.
CC: AUDU TERYANGE – well meaning indigene of the state.