Bendel Insurance and Lobi Stars are currently leading their respective groups, Group A and Group B, in the Nigeria Premier Football League as the league takes a mid-season break. Promoted from the Nigerian National League last season, they have been the surprise package of the season so far with an impressive record of seven wins and two draws from their nine outings.
The team has remained unbeaten and currently holds a seven-point lead at the top of Group A table, which underlines their title credentials. In their latest match, they secured a 1-0 win against Enyimba, who are eight-time champions.
There were signs that Bendel Insurance were the real deal, even before the new season kicked off. Early in November 2022, the freshly promoted side beat Brazil’s Santos FC 2-1 in a pre-season friendly match as the Benin City-based team prepared for the upcoming top-flight season. The match was played at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State and it was a good way for the club to register its quality and level.
However, Bendel Insurance are not new kids on the block. They are a historical football club in Nigeria, with a rich tradition of producing top-class talents who have gone on to play for the national team, the Super Eagles. The likes of Osaze Odemwingie, Ifeanyi Udeze, Julius Aghaowa and Pius Ikedia started their careers at the club before they became successful.
Yet, despite this rich history, the club has faced numerous financial and administrative crises over the years. Bendel Insurance recently gained promotion back to the Nigerian topflight league due to the renewed support of the government and corporate bodies that have aligned with the project to return the club to its glory years. This process is what the domestic league is witnessing as the club began the season with a win away at Akwa United. It was a win that look fortuitous at the beginning and appeared to be beginners’ luck.
To dispel the attribution of their determination to excel to luck, it is apposite to take a step back and see how they have overcome adversity to return to the summit of the local league. Founded by Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, they were one of the founding members of the Nigerian Premier League in 1972. Based in Benin City, Bendel Insurance play their home matches at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with a capacity of 12,000. They had a successful start in the Nigerian football scene and, as mentioned previously, produced some top-class talents who went on to make their mark in the national team.
However, it was not all rosy. Bendel Insurance’s history has been a constant trough and crest, rocked with financial and administrative crisis over the years. The club had its first month of the 2007/2008 season delayed because of a management dispute over who controlled the team. The crisis at one time resulted in the emergence of two different clubs, both of which laid claim to the name Insurance. They were relegated at the end of that season after finishing in last place, the first relegation from the top level in the team’s history.
In August 2008, the ownership crisis was settled and the Edo State Government took control, officially reverting the name to Bendel Insurance Football Club. However, the insurers’ financial problems continued throughout the season and they were temporarily banned from using their stadium in February 2009 because it was not up to league standards. In March of the same year, they were one of eight teams threatened with having their participation suspended due to a backlog of debts and fines. They were exiled to Ilorin, North Central Nigeria, for their final home game of the season after crowd trouble in a 1-1 tie against Shooting Stars FC that put an end to their promotion chances.
The reason for Bendel Insurance’s breakdown was because of this ownership situation. Despite these setbacks, the club was promoted back to the top flight for the 2019 season after spending over 10 years in lower divisions. However, the club was relegated back to the NNL after one season.
It won promotion back to the NPFL on the penultimate day of the 2022 season, a feat that showcased the players’ and staff’s resilience, a quality that is still showing as they lead the league in the current campaign.
Bendel Insurance have also had a history of success, having won the Nigeria Premier League twice in 1973 and 1979, and the Nigerian FA Cup thrice in 1972, 1978, and 1980.
They also won the CAF Cup once in 1994 and the West African Club Championship (UFOA Cup) thrice in 1993, 1994, and 1995. Their performance in CAF competitions has been decent, having made two appearances in the African Cup of Champions Clubs and reaching the Semi-Finals in 1980. They also made it to the Semi-Finals of the CAF Cup Winners’ Cup in 1979 and the Second Round in 1982.
Bendel Insurance Football Club have a rich history that is filled with success and setbacks. Despite the challenges they have faced, they have continued to push forward and strive for excellence. With their recent promotion to the NPFL, the club hopes to build on their past success and continue to make a mark in Nigerian football. Despite the challenges it has faced, the support of the government and its corporate sponsors have made Bendel Insurance determined to make their mark in the NPFL this season and build on its legacy of producing top talents for the national team.
As an example, in January, before the new season began, the ‘Benin Arsenal,’ as the club is fondly known, had its kit sponsorship deal with Sterling Bank Plc renewed for the new Nigerian Premier Football League season.
The announcement was made during the unveiling of the new kit at a recent ceremony held at the Edo State Government House in Benin, Edo State. Sterling Bank Executive Director, Tunde Adeola, expressed gratitude and honour to be part of the return to footballing glory of Bendel Insurance. He pledged Sterling Bank’s continued support and sponsorship for the football club, adding that it cherishes the partnership.
The Deputy Governor of Edo State and Chairman of Bendel Insurance and Edo Queen Football Clubs, Philip Shaibu, also thanked Sterling Bank for its continued support, particularly after the Board approached several private establishments for sponsorship. Shaibu disclosed that Sterling Bank had been the only corporate entity to sponsor a team in the Nigerian National League (NNL) and the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), with a record-making deal worth N50 million in the previous season. This partnership has been extended to the tune of N75 million for the new season as the football club vies for honours in the top flight.
The footballing relationship between Bendel Insurance and Sterling Bank has been mutually beneficial. Not only has the football club gained promotion to the Nigerian Premier Football League, but Sterling Bank was also crowned champions of the 2022 edition of the Nigerian Bankers’ Games.
Still, Bendel Insurance’s head coach, Monday Odigie, has refused to entertain talks that his team is now the favourite to win the League title, despite being unbeaten after nine matches. The coach emphasized that his team still has a lot of work to do before the end of the season. He remained grounded, as every coach is supposed to, saying: “We still have more games to play in the second half of the season. Winning the league isn’t our priority as we want to focus more on maintaining a high level of performance in our remaining fixtures. Our team is young, so they need to be thirsty for success. If all this can be done, success will surely come.”
With the support of the government, corporate sponsorship, dogged determination and disciplined focus, the ‘Benin Arsenal’ can do the unthinkable and lift the 2023 NPFL title. The second half of the abridged season will tell but they have shown the possibilities that exist in Nigerian Football with the right support and mentality.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
