NPFL23: Insurance Maintain Unbeaten Run, Put Enyimba lnto Sword

NPFL23: Insurance Maintain Unbeaten Run, Put Enyimba lnto Sword 

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin on Sunday evening defeated visiting Enyimba International Football Club of Aba 1-0 in the week 9 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. 

The only goal of the tension-soaked  match was scored by top striker Imade Osarenkhoe courtesy of Ebuka Akobundu's assist from the right flank in the 23rd minute of play and eventually sealed victory for the high flying Bendel Insurance FC.

Imade, Sarki Ismael and Vincent Augustus came close to increasing the goal tally for the host but their efforts went inches away from the post at different occasions as the homers came all out against the People's Elephants.

Enyimba on the other hand showed why their most respected club in the country as they gave a good account of themselves with possessive display throughout but all their attempt for possible equaliser met the brick walls posed by  Insurance defence network of Sunday Anyawu,Benjamin Tanimu, Julius Emiloju and Ebuka Akobundu. 

On resumption of hostility  in the second half, the homers continued from where they stopped in the second half as they piled up more pressure on the visitors in search of  more goals but it ended 1-0.

With the victory over the two times CAF Champions League Winners, the Benin Arsenal ended the first round of the 2023 NPFL Group A with 23 points, seven points clear of the second placed Enyimba.

In a post match interview, Coach Monday Odigie of Insurance expressed delight on the victory over the hard-fighting Enyimba boys, just as he promised to correct some mistakes noticed in his team before the resumption of the second round. 

On the chances of Bendel Insurance winning the league, coach  Odigie said his boys will be taking each game at a time.

Insurance FC have been in spectacular form since return to the premier league and will be proceeding on three weeks midseason break satisfied.

NPFL23: We Are Mindful Of Our Position - Coach Bala

NPFL23: We Are Mindful Of Our Position - Coach Bala

Ahead of their clash with Dakkada FC, Tornadoes gaffer Abubakar Bala has assured fans of good things to come and also solicits for support for his lads.

Former Kwara United tactician has this to say;

"The game against Dakkada FC is going to be a tough. They always proved stubborn and difficult to beat here in our home. Most of our recent meetings always produced a slim win for the 2 sides at home. 

"Our current position on the log is not the true reflection of our performance and we are mindful of that. The players are in good shape and ready to come back to winning ways.

"We have also told them to be calm in front of goal so that they can make the right judgement in converting most of the chances being created, thus, we are confident that they will get it right again as they have done from the beginning of the league. 

 "This is the time that the players need all necessary support and motivation." He noted.

Amoo Abayomi, A Saving Grace For Tourists

 

Amoo Abayomi, A Saving Grace For Tourists

Nigeria Premier Football League Match Day Seven (7) between Abia Warriors and Wikki Tourist of Bauchi witnessed a mild drama which could have escalated into a sordid clash at the end of the said game in Aba.

 The game which ended one-all witnessed no ugly incidence before and during the game, however, an incident greeted the aftermath of the encounter which lasted for two hours.

One Obinna Orji, a former player of Wikki Tourist suddenly appeared and held the visitors hostage on their way out of the mainbowl.

He claimed that Wikki Tourist are indebted to him to the tune of One Million Five Hundred Thousand naira (1,500, 000). He brought out the evidence to support his claim.

Suddenly, his boys popped up and refused the visitors to leave the arena demanding the full payment of the debt. 

The team were helpless even with the security personnels on ground. That was when the Match Commissioner from Osun, named Amoo Abayomi wade in.

He persuaded both sides to have a written agreement on how the money will be paid and to be endorsed by host FA as witness. He equally ensured that commitment fee of fifty thousand naira is paid instantly into the account of Obinna Orji whose accumulated salary remain unpaid since 2012.

The Match Commissioner, being a pragmatic administrator, a problem solver and integrity personified later secured the release of the away team.

Wikki Tourist are not having it rossy in the current campaign following the abysmal performances but a point on the road isn't a bad result going into their next game.