Kabiru Dogo of Nasarawa United and Anthony Okpotu of Lobi Stars have been named the Manager and Player for August in the Glo Premier League by the League Bloggers Awards (LBA).
In the month under review, Dogo and Okpotu clearly underscored their performance in the top flight with the former leading Nasarawa United to eye-catching displays and impressive outcomes while the latter’s goals were pivotal in their push out of the drop zone.
For the manager’s category, Dogo stood out among the other three nominees, Kadiri Ikhana (Enyimba), Gbenga Ogunbote (3SC) and Stanley Eguma (Dolphins).
Though the shortlisted managers for the August award was whittled down to Dogo and Ikhana based on similarities in points amassed by their teams being 13 apiece, the Nasarawa United trainer edged his Enyimba counterparts on two fronts.
Dogo ensured that his team held a superior goal difference than Ikhana’s Enyimba in August. Only Sunshine Stars, whose manager, Kennedy Boboye, was not in the running, had the best goal different in the month under review.
The Nasarawa United man also guided his team to claim the most points on the road, being four, including a 2-1 away win at Kano Pillars to bring to a halt a 12-year-old unbeaten home record held by the champions.
Okpotu was one of the nominees in the month of July for the LBA player’s gong but missed out to the impressive Abia Warriors attacking midfielder, Ndifreke Effiong.
But this time, the Lobi Stars striker, who has earned himself the moniker ‘The Panther,’ for exhibiting aggressiveness, pace, intelligence and strength which are qualities found in the evasive predator, racked up enough reasons to shake off the close challenge of Sunshine Stars and Super Eagles winger, Prince Aggreh as well as the duo of Aniekpeno Udoh of Akwa United and Stephen Adah of FC Taraba for the prize.
Aggreh and Okpotu scored six goals apiece in August and their goals also helped their teams to three wins each last month. But Okpotu shaded Aggreh to the LBA gong by netting two goals on the road at difficult venues against Enyimba and Kano Pillars while the Sunshine Stars man got all of his six in home matches.
Dogo and Okpotu will be presented their awards in a later date in September by the LBA.