The influential League Bloggers Awards (LBA) has announced eight nominees that would vie for the Manager and Player of the month awards for January 2021 in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Formed in 2019, the LBA is the foremost independent awards in Nigeria that recognize outstanding performers in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Four top coaches in the running for the coveted Manager for January are Enyimba’s Fatai Osho, Bala Nikyu of Nasarawa Utd, Gbenga Ogunbote of Sunshine Stars, and Stanley Eguma of Rivers Utd.
Both coaches recorded an impressive performance with their respective clubs to earn nominations for the prestigious awards.
Fatai Osho (Enyimba)
P6 W4 D0 L2 GF6 GA4
Fatai Osho recorded 4 wins out of 6 matches for the month under review. He led the People’s Elephant to victories over Wikki Tourists, Katsina Utd, Kano Pillars, and a 2-1 road victory against Adamawa Utd in Gombe.
Even though Enyimba lost 2 matches in January against Heartland and Kwara Utd, the record NPFL champions are leading the log with 21pts, 3 ahead of 2nd place, Rivers Utd.
12pts
Bala Nikyu (Nasarawa Utd)
P6 W3 D2 L1 GF6 GA4
Bala Nikyu led Nasarawa Utd to two road victories over Heartland and Warri Wolves respectively, putting him in the frame for the first LBA awards of the season.
11pts
Gbenga Ogunbote (Sunshine Stars)
P4 W4 D1 L1 GF9 GA5
With Sadeeq Yusuf firing from all cylinders, it is not a doubt to see, Ogunbote’s led Sunshine Stars scored more goals than any of the mentioned clubs running for the award.
The experienced Ogunbote led Sunshine to four wins in the month, scoring 9 goals and conceding 5 and he recorded more points, 13, one more than his rivals.
13pts
Stanley Eguma (Rivers Utd)
P6 W4 D0 L2 GF8 GA3
Rivers United under Stanley Eguma have shown character week in week out and boasting of having the best defensive record in the League. The experienced tactician has steered Rivers Utd to impressive 3-0 and 3-1 victories against Kwara Utd and Heartland as they remain 2nd on the log, 3pts adrift of Enyimba Int’l.
12pts
In the players category, NPFL top scorer with 7 goals, Sadeeq Yusuf of Sunshine Stars is in the running for his first LBA award and will battle the likes of Plateau Utd’s goalkeeper, Chinedu Anozie, Akwa Utd’s Ndifreke Effiong and Kano Pillars on loan striker at Jigawa Golden Stars, Samuel Stone.
Winners of the Manager and Player for the month of January 2021 will be announced on Saturday at 10:30am.
NOMINEES
Managers;
Fatai Osho (Enyimba Int’l)
Bala Nikyu (Nasarawa Utd)
Gbenga Ogunbote (Sunshine Stars)
Stanley Eguma (Rivers Utd)
Players;
Sadeeq Yusuf (Sunshine Stars)
Ndifreke Effiong (Akwa Utd)
Chinedu Anozie (Plateau Utd)
Samuel Stone (Jigawa Golden Stars)
