Speaking to Trustsports in Makurdi, the coach noted that when he took over as coach of the team, he noticed that certain players who have no serious contribution to make to the club were retained but if the club is to make any appreciable impact, such players would have to make way for enterprising players to be brought into the team.
Ugenyi said even if they are allowed to remain in the team on compassionate grounds, they will not be able to make any serious contribution because they are no longer as good as they were few years back.
“We are going shed weight because when I took over the team, I discovered that some players are surplus to requirement. The only sensible thing to do is to ask such players to make way for those who would come in and contribute to the success of the team.
“I am not saying the players I have in mind are not bad but they do not fit into the present arrangement. I will like to beef up the squad with few quality players who would assist in achieving the target we have set for ourselves”.
Ugenyi who won the 2008 Federation Cup with Ocean Boys of Brass noted that even if Lobi Stars is out of contention for the League title, it is a club that has a rich history of impressive performance in the Federation Cup and will strive to make an impact in this year’s competition.
He said Lobi Stars won the competition which was formerly called Challenge Cup in 2003 and came so close in 2005 when they lost to Enyimba on penalties at the Liberation Stadium in Port-Harcourt.
“Lobi Stars boasts of a rich history when it comes to the Federation Cup. We are hoping to have a successful campaign this year to prove that indeed we are not outsiders when it comes to the Federation Cup”.The coach therefore assured the team’s teeming supporters of a good outing in this year’s Federation Cup as he said when the time comes, those who are men in the oldest competition in the country will be separated from the boys.
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