Sports

Bendel Insurance Mgt Motivates Bendel Insurance Players Ahead Of Sunshine Clash In Ijebu-Ode

Published

1 year ago

October 31, 2024

The management of Bendel Insurance Football Club led by the Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Olympian Yussuf Alli, has urged the players and official of the Benin Arsenals to put the thoughts of the home defeat behind them and concentrate on their next match at Ijebu-Ode on Sunday.

The Edo State Sports Commission boss said that the Match Day 10 against Sunshine Stars on Sunday in Ijebu-Ode is more important than the 1-0 defeat to Abia Warriors on Saturday in Benin.

Yussuf Alli Oly was speaking when he paid the team a surprise visit during their evening training session on Wednesday with a pleasant motivation package of undisclosed amount of money

He told the team that though the management is not happy with their below par performance so far this season, but will however continue to encourage them to strive for success which is near if the right attitude and energy is put up.

“I am here this afternoon to encourage you to put the thoughts of the home defeat behind you and have hundred percent concentration for the next match. Go to Ijebu-Ode and win to fully recover from the last weekend setback.

“I must tell you the truth that we are not happy with the results we are getting. There is a growing concern by stakeholders about our performance and current situation in the league.We have done all that is required for you to succeed and it is not showing.

“However, we want to believe that soon, we will rise above the challenges and find our rhythm and winning mentality. Don’t feel despair but continue to work hard and avoid distractions. You guys are good,it is just little mistakes we are making that is affecting us and we can correct them.” Alli said.

He challenged the players and coaches to seize the opportunity of the Ijebu-Ode neutral ground for the match against Sunshine Stars to cover their lost grounds.

Responding, the Head Coach and Technical Director of Bendel Insurance FC, Monday Odigie expressed the team’s appreciation for the kind words and encouragement from the Sports Commission chairman against the expectation that the chairman was going to be hard on them.

“Mr Chairman we sincerely appreciate you sir. We will continue to work hard and do our best to turn things around. We apologize for the outcome of the Abia Warriors game,” he said.

Sunday Megwo’s 40th minute goal gave Abia Warriors a 1-0 victory over Bendel Insurance Football Club in the Match Day 9 of the Nigeria Premier Football League in Benin last weekend.

Bendel Insurance will be on the road to Ijebu-Ode on Sunday to face Sunshine Stars in the March Day 10 fixture. Kick off time is 4pm.

Meanwhile, Bendel Insurance duo of Michael Enaruna (Forward )and captain Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi(Midfield) have been invited to the camp of Nigeria’s home based Super Eagles for the CHAN 2025 Tournament.

The duo are already in the camp of the National team in Abuja as they were not seen on the training ground of the Benin Arsenals yesterday.

Sports

JUST IN: Dembélé Named FIFA Best Men’s Player, Bonmatí Wins Women’s Award

Published

7 days ago

December 16, 2025

Editor

Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been awarded the FIFA Best Men’s Player for 2025, following a season in which he contributed significantly to both his club and the France national team.

Dembélé, known for his pace, creativity, and goal-scoring ability, played a central role in Paris Saint-Germain’s campaigns across domestic and European competitions. His performances for the national team also helped France secure notable results in international fixtures.

Speaking on the recognition, Dembélé said, “It is a great honour to receive this award. I could not have achieved this without my teammates at PSG and in the national team, whose support has been invaluable.”

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was named FIFA Best Women’s Player for 2025. Bonmatí was influential in Barcelona’s domestic and European campaigns, providing leadership, vision, and creativity in midfield. She also played a key role in Spain’s international successes.

“This award reflects the hard work of my teammates and coaches,” Bonmatí said. “I am grateful for their guidance and support throughout the season.”

The announcements reaffirm FIFA’s recognition of individual excellence in football while highlighting the contributions of players to both club and country.

Sports

Court Fixes Date To Hear Sala Compensation Dispute

Published

2 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

A commercial court examining the long-running dispute between Cardiff City and French club Nantes over compensation for the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash said Monday it would give its decision on March 30 next year.

Sala, a 28-year-old Argentine striker, died when the light aircraft taking him to the Welsh capital came down in the English Channel on January 21, 2019, two days after he had signed for the then-Premier League side. He and pilot David Ibbotson were killed.

The Welsh club took the case to the Nantes commercial court in 2023 to claim compensation for loss of income and other damages suffered by the club as a result of the player’s death.

Following an analysis conducted by an expert appointed by Cardiff City, the club estimated their losses at over 120 million euros ($139.5 million). Lawyers for both clubs made their cases at Monday’s hearing.

The Welsh club argue that Nantes, through their intermediary, agent Willie McKay, were the organisers of the private flight on which the footballer was travelling and that, if the transfer was effective at the time of the accident according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), it is the organisation of this flight that is at issue.

Cardiff City’s lawyer, Olivier Loizon, told the court Monday, Willie McKay “could not have been unaware of the illegality of the flight”, and argued that the agent had acted with “negligence”.

“Whatever the ultimate cause of the accident, (Sala) should not have been on the flight,” he added.

Nantes’ lawyer, Jerome Marsaudon, insisted Monday the only agent authorised by the club in connection with the transfer was Mark McKay, the son of Willie McKay.

The elder McKay “was simply helping his son, given his extensive experience”, the lawyer said.

“It is sad to see that Cardiff have exploited this tragedy and turned it into a genuine legal farce,” he added. “Nothing in this case justifies holding FC Nantes liable.”

Prior to the start of the hearing, a Nantes representative said the club “have no doubt that Cardiff’s claims will be rejected outright, just like all the others”.

In another case related to the dispute between the two clubs, CAS ruled in 2022 that Sala’s transfer had definitely been finalised at the time of his death.

In 2023, world football’s governing body FIFA ordered Cardiff to pay Nantes the balance of Sala’s transfer fee, which at the time amounted to just over 11 million euros out of a total of 17 million euros.

Sports

Salah A ‘Disgrace’ For Liverpool Outburst – Carragher

Published

2 weeks ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher labelled Mohamed Salah “a disgrace” on Monday after the Egypt star’s stunning outburst at Reds boss Arne Slot.

Salah said he had been “thrown under a bus” and had no relationship with Slot after he was left on the bench for last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Leeds.

It was the third successive game that Salah had been kept out of the starting line-up by Slot amid the forward’s loss of form this season.

In response to Salah’s astonishing rant to reporters, Liverpool axed the 33-year-old from the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Inter Milan.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Carragher, a 2005 Champions League winner with Liverpool, said: “I thought it was a disgrace what he did after the game.

“Some people have painted it as an emotional outburst. I don’t think it was. I think whenever Mo Salah stops in a mixed zone, which he has done four times in eight years at Liverpool, it’s choreographed with his agent to cause maximum damage and strengthen his own position.

“He’s chosen this weekend to do this now, and he’s waited I think for a bad result… everyone involved with the club (feeling) like they’re in the gutter, and he’s chosen that time to go for the manager and maybe try to get him sacked.”

Salah is a two-time Premier League champion with Liverpool and has also won the Champions League during his iconic eight-year spell at Anfield.

But, although he only signed a new contract in April, Salah hinted he might have played his last game for Liverpool as he prepares to jet off to the African Cup of Nations after their Premier League clash with Brighton at Anfield on Saturday.

Salah has been linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League and and Carragher added: “What he’s done off the pitch, I think the club have made the right decision in terms of him not going abroad. Whether he will play for Liverpool again, I don’t know.

“I hope he does, because he’s one of the greatest players we’ve ever had, but if you continue like that, and statements like that, if he doesn’t play, who knows.”