It is no longer news that Yobe Desert Stars are deep in relegation as they are presently last on Group A table of the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League season.
What is however news is the presence of four players of the same tribe in Benue State who are championing the fight to keep the club in the topflight.
The captain of the team, Moses Tsehuan, Daniel Agwaza jnr, Moses Yanmar and goalkeeper Terkaa Melai are all Tiv boys from Gboko, the home of the once dreaded BCC Lions football club.
Interestingly, two of the players, Yanmar and Melai are former players of Lobi Stars. While Yanmar left Lobi Stars to join Yobe Desert Stars when they were still in the Nigeria National League, Melai recently joined from Niger Tornadoes.
In recent times, the quartet has featured prominently in the matches prosecuted by the relegation threatened club.
For instance in their last match at Go Round FC, the four boys from Gboko started the encounter that Yobe Stars lost 0-1.
Speaking to Trust Sports on behalf of his team mates, captain Tsehaun said the ‘boys from Gboko’ as they are commonly called have resolved to do everything to keep Yobe Stars in the NPFL.
He said the fight against relegation is getting tougher but in football ‘it is not over until it is all over’ so the fight must go on.
“We have found ourselves in a very tight corner but we are not going to give up. Yobe Stars have been good to us so we have resolved to do everything humanly possible to save the club from relegation.
“One thing that surprises people is how four of us usually make the starting line-up. In Yobe Stars merit is considered over all other considerations. We definitely merit our positions in the team,” he said.
Tsehaun also said they feel very much at home because they share their pains and joy together.
According to him, Damaturu has become their second home so they won’t spare anything in the fight to keep Yobe Stars in the topflight.
