AIGBOGUN EMERGED MANAGER OF THE MONTH

Paul Aigbogun and Godwin Obaje have been named Manager and Player respectively for the month of May in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) by the League Bloggers Awards (LBA).

The two men were among eight shortlists named in the race for the two awards in the month under review.

Enyimba head coach, Aigbogun, beat the trio of Abdu Maikaba of Wikki Tourists, Rivers United's Stanley Eguma and Kabiru Dogo of Nasarawa United to the manager's award after guiding the Peoples Elephant to an unbeaten run in May.

The Nigerian champions notched up 17 points in seven matches including four points on the road. The high-point of Enyimba's run in May was their 2-1 win over arch-rivals Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on May 4.

Rivers United gaffer, Eguma, was the closest challenger to Aigbogun for the manager's award in May. But his team had five points less having won four matches out of six. Eguma could not save the Port Harcourt club from losses at Abia Warriors and Lobi Stars.

The pair of Dogo and Maikaba could only help their clubs to nine points apiece in the past month.

However, Obaje emerged clear favourite to land the player's award in May for inspiring Wikki's charge into top spot with six goals, therefore accounting for half of the Bauchi club's goals in the month under review.

The Wikki striker helped himself to a brace against Nasarawa United and a hat-trick against Shooting Stars, thereby securing six points for his club. His other goal came in their 1-3 defeat at Sunshine Stars on Match Day 18.

The goalkeeping pair of Enyimba's Theophilus Afelokhai and Rotimi Sunday of Rivers United made the race for the player's award on the back of three clean sheets each in May. Afelokhai did not concede in games against MFM FC, Nasarawa United and FC Ifeanyiu bah while Sunday was a massive figure between the sticks for Rivers United in the matches against Akwa United, Warri Wolves and Wikki Tourists.

Rivers United's Bernard Ovoke earned himself a nomination with his three goals, including one on the road at Wolves, which earned the Garden City club the full points. His other goals against title-contenders Enugu Rangers and Cup holders, Akwa United, we're equally influential in securing full points for his club.

Aigbogun and Obaje will be presented their awards in the coming days by the LBA