Bendel Insurance F.C.

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Bendel Insurance FC
Belden Insurance.png
Full nameBendel Insurance Football Club
Nickname(s)Vipers, The Benin Arsenal
Founded1972
GroundSamuel Ogbemudia Stadium
Benin City, Nigeria
Capacity20,000
ChairmanJulius Ihonvbere[1]
Manager[2]
LeagueNigerian Professional Football League[3]

Bendel Insurance Football Club, also known as Insurance of Benin Football Club or simply Bendel Insurance, is a soccer club based in Benin City, Nigeria. Which played in the Nigeria Professional football league. They were originally known as the Vipers of Benin. They play their home matches at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium[4][5] which has a capacity of 20,000.

History[]

Created by Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, Bendel Insurance was one of the founding members of the Nigerian Premier League in 1972.[6]

The team had its first month of the 2007–08 season delayed because of a management dispute over who controlled the team.[7][8] The crisis led to at one time two different clubs claiming the name Insurance. They were relegated at the end of the 2007–08 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. Thus the name officially reverted to Bendel Insurance Football Club.

However, the financial problems continued throughout the season. In February 2009, Insurance was banned from using their stadium temporarily because it was not up to league standards. In March, they were one of eight teams threatened with having their participation suspended due to a backlog of debts and fines.[9] Finally, 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 the ownership situations.[10]

Bendel Insurance were promoted back to the top flight for the 2019 season after spending over ten years in lower divisions.[6]

Achievements[]

  • Nigeria Premier League: 2
1973, 1979
  • Nigerian FA Cup: 3
1972, 1978, 1980
1994
  • West African Club Championship (UFOA Cup): 3
1993, 1994, 1995

Performance in CAF competitions[]

  • African Cup of Champions Clubs: 2 appearances
1974: Second Round
1980: Semi-Finals
2005 – Second Round
1994 – Champion
1979 – Semi-Finals
1982 – Second Round

Current team[]

As of 30 January 2019

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 Nigeria NGA Stephen Sodje
4 Nigeria NGA Emmanuel Uangboje
6 Nigeria NGA
8 Nigeria NGA
9 Nigeria NGA
10 Nigeria NGA
12 GK Nigeria NGA Amas Obasogie
13 Nigeria NGA Abraham Odianosen
14 Nigeria NGA Abraham Ovwiomodiohwo
15 Nigeria NGA
16 Nigeria NGA Odinaka Ezeh
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 Nigeria NGA
19 Nigeria NGA
20 Nigeria NGA Kingsley Onovo
23 Nigeria NGA
24 GK Nigeria NGA Abiodun Owolabi
26 Nigeria NGA Ebiaku Promise
27 Nigeria NGA Michael Ugwu
28 Nigeria NGA Tanimu Benjamin
30 Nigeria NGA Daniel Johnson
31 Nigeria NGA Kalu Moses
32 Nigeria NGA Adimorama Ezeh
33 Nigeria NGA

Notable players[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Edo State To Rebrand Bendel Insurance Football Club • Channels Television".
  2. ^ https://newtelegraphonline.com/2017/12/edo-unveils-new-technical-crew-insurance/
  3. ^ "Bendel Insurance, three other teams promoted to Nigeria pro football league – Premium Times Nigeria". 9 January 2019.
  4. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50476193%7Ctitle=Nigeria's Edo State to pay women and men teams equally|date=19 November 2019|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}
  5. ^ url= http://www.worldstadiums.com/africa/countries/nigeria.shtml%7Ctitle=Stadiums in Nigeria |accessdate=15 July 2007 |work=World Stadiums
  6. ^ a b Odegbami, Olusegun (18 January 2019). "The Return of 'Bede' Insurance!". Vanguard Nigeria.
  7. ^ "Insurance FC crisis started since 1995". NIGERIAN TRIBUNE. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
  8. ^ "Osunbor summons Ebewele, Ekhosuehi – Insurance crisis latest". NIGERIAN TRIBUNE. Retrieved 4 January 2008.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Compass News – Awaken To A Different World". Compass News – Awaken To A Different World. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
  10. ^ "Bendel Insurance F.C." Nigeria Professional Football League. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
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