Sports

NPFL25: Strategize On Enhancing Team Performance, Enabulele Charges Bendel Insurance Management

Published

9 months ago

March 5, 2025

Editor

The Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC), Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele has charged the management of Bendel Insurance Football Club on the need to strategize on enhancing the team performance in the ongoing season and beyond.

Enabulele gave the charge during a meeting with the coaches and management team of Bendel Insurance FC at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, on Wednesday.

The Edo Sports Commission boss, while
commending the coaches and players of the Benin Arsenal on their ability to effect a turn around in the ongoing 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League ( NPFL), specially lauded the Head Coach, Greg Ikhenoba for his dedication.

He stresses the importance of proper data for players and recruitment process, as well as technical depth, and teamwork among the coaching crew and management team of Bendel Insurance FC.

Enabulele, who noted that his priority is to build a strong Bendel Insurance FC, disclosed that “our Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo is passionate about sports, and we must encourage him with victories.”

“My priority is to build a strong Bendel Insurance FC, as the Governor is keen on improving the team’s performance by providing the necessary resources and enabling environment for the club to thrive” Enabulele stated.

He continued: “Our objective is to bring glory to the state and, in return, boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through Bendel Insurance FC.

“Since the state government is making significant investments in the team, it is imperative that we reciprocate by finishing among the top three in the league. Football should be seen as a business.

“We should have won our last away match against Bayelsa United, but the result was disappointing. The team must strive to secure victories, particularly in our upcoming home game against Remo Stars on Saturday.

“Let me commend the head coach Greg Ikhenoba and his team for the good job they have been doing so far.

“When I came to the Edo State Sports Commission, I met Insurance at the rock bottom of the league table, precisely in the 20th position and it was a big concern to us. We only encouraged them.

“So, the ability of the team to fight for their way out of the relegation zone and now sitting comfortably in the 8th position is really commendable irrespective of the result posted in Yenagoa on Sunday,” He said.

The Executive Chairman, while acknowledging the past achievements of the club, stressed the need to pursue new goals and set an agenda.

“We have surpassed our initial targets of fighting to survive in the premier league, our next focus is securing a top-four finish to qualify for continental football.

“We must also ensure a structured transition of players from our academy to the senior team, which will enhance morale boosting across our feeder teams.

“Honestly, coach Greg Ikhenoba and his team have really made us proud despite the 2-1 loss to Bayelsa United on Sunday,” He said.

Enabulele expressed his confidence in the team to do better.

“I believe strongly that we can do better. I am a results-oriented person. Let’s continue to work hard for us to get to the destination of success.

“We are currently working on giving the team a befitting camp with standard hostel facilities and to improve the welfare of the players and officials,” He assured

Responding, the Head Coach, Ikhenoba of Bendel Insurance expressed confidence in the team’s ability to make more progress, stating, “We have successfully met our initial mandate, and our focus is now on elevating our performance to gain continental recognition.

“I appreciate the Executive Chairman for his unwavering support.”

Recall that Bendel Insurance FC were battling to survive in the relegation waters towards the end of the first round of the league in December when Enabulele assumed office as the Executive chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission.

Related Topics:Bendel Insurance Bendel Insurance FC Enabulele

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Sports

NFF In Fresh N1.4b FIFA Women World Cup Scandal

Published

3 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Editor

Former Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum, has questioned the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) management of the monies that the world football governing body, FIFA, gave the federation for the team’s preparation for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, reports allnigeriasoccer.com.

Waldrum’s team was eliminated from the championship in the second round by England through a penalty shootout. But the American alleged in a viral video on X that his team was handicapped by the NFF’s failure to make available the fund needed to properly prepare the side for the championship.

He alleged that the NFF received $960,000 from FIFA in October 2022 to support the Super Falcons’ preparations for the tournament.

He said: “I have a real close contact here in the US that is very connected with some of the board at FIFA. This person told me that in October, every country was given $960k from FIFA to prepare for the World, where is that money.

“If Nigeria got that money why didn’t we have a camp in November? We went to Japan, we flew in and played the game and went home. Some of our players didn’t arrive until the morning before the game, I think five players who were going to start for me, arrived the night before the game and the game was 4:00pm and they traveled 16 hours on the plane. And we played Japan and then we went home. We wasted the last five days of that window to train.”

Waldrum, who affirmed that FIFA provides financial support to federations that are unable to afford business-class travel, with deductions made from their World Cup earnings.

According to him, the NFF had no justification for suboptimal logistics. “So, all these questions I have is where is this money? And the other thing I found out through my FIFA connections is that if countries don’t have the money to buy business class tickets for everybody, FIFA will fund the money and buy those tickets and just deduct it from the monies you get from FIFA after the World Cup.

“So there’s no excuse to say we didn’t have money to buy tickets and then we didn’t have camps. These are the kinds of things that the people of Nigeria don’t question. In the US, they would be questioned. If the US Soccer Federation was doing the same things, the US Soccer Federation would have to answer to it.”

The coach also faulted the NFF for failing to maximise FIFA-approved staffing provisions, noting that while FIFA allows up to 22 technical staff members, Nigeria travelled with only about 11.

“So if FIFA will pay bonuses for up to 22 people, why didn’t we have 22 people? I didn’t have an analyst and I scout. Listen, the US has a scout in Europe, watching teams play in these exhibitions, in case they face them at the World Cup,” he explained.

“We didn’t even have scouts going with us to Australia. I didn’t even have anybody to scout games. If we got out of our group, I didn’t even have anybody to scout games in other groups. Everything I had to do was on videos and what I could pick up online.”

Sports

EPL: Berbatov Names Team That Can ‘Surprise’ Arsenal In Title Race

Published

3 days ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

Former Manchester United striker, Dimitar Berbatov, has named the team that could “surprise” Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners are now six points clear of second-placed Chelsea, thanks to their 4-1 demolition of Tottenham on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s men could extend that lead to nine points, when they travel to face the Blues this weekend.

Berbatov has now said he expects Arsenal to be “really tested” over the hectic festive period and says their title credentials will become clearer in the New Year.

“Of course Liverpool are low in the table and Man City are dropping points, but there are other teams like Chelsea who can surprise people,” Berbatov told ESPN.

“Six points is a good cushion but in the Premier League it’s nothing and can go very quickly.”

Sports

Champions League: Arteta Gives Arsenal Injury Updates Ahead Bayern Munich Clash

Published

3 days ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has given injury updates on his squad ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

The Gunners have won their first four matches in the competition without conceding a single goal.

Arteta’s men will be looking to continue their perfect start with a win over Bayern at the Emirates.

Arsenal could have captain Martin Odegaard back for the game, alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke.

“Yeah they are [Madueke and Martinelli in contenton to start] and we’re going to have a meeting now to decide on Martin [Odegaard],” Arteta told reporters today.

“He was very close for the previous game.

“We are confident he can be in the squad as well.”