Governor Gabriel Suswam

Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State has rewarded his state's soccer team, Lobi Stars with N2.5m for winning a continental ticket after placing second on the Nigeria Premier League Table.

The Benue State Governor, feted Lobi Stars' players and officials and gave them the N2.5million immediately after their 3-0 home victory over Enugu Rangers which guaranteed them a place on the continent next season.

Before the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), Week 37 clash with the Flying Antelopes, Lobi, Kano Pillars and Rangers were running neck and neck in the race for the league shield and needed a win to put their destiny in their own hands ahead of the last round of matches.

Lobi deservedly got a handsome 3-0 win with goals from Tony Okpotu and Jonah Abutu.

Governor Suswam therefore decided to give the players and officials the cash reward to boost their morale ahead of the 2012 Federation Cup semi final clash with Kano Pillars tomorrow in Calabar and their last Week 38 league game against Kaduna United on September 7.

Officials of the Makurdi-based side said that the gesture from the Governor has boosted the morale of the players for the remaining matches of the season.

"We are so happy for what the Governor has done. We are going to make sure that we reciprocate this good gesture by doing well against Kano Pillars in the semi finals of the Federation Cup and the last match in the Nigeria Premier League against Kaduna," a Lobi official said.

The Makurdi-based team are second on the NPL table with 63 points from 37 matches with just a point behind leaders, Pillars but two more than third placed Rangers International of Enugu.