BENIN CITY – The defending champions of Edo State FA/Aiteo Cup Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin have been nominated to represent the state in this year’s Federation/Aiteo Cup competition.

The decision by Edo FA and major football stakeholders to give the ticket to Insurance was announced today in Benin when the leadership of Edo Football Association led by Comrade Rolland Abu and proprietors and coaches of three FA/Aiteo Cup semi finalists Bernard Jomah(Dynamite Force FC, Coach Douglas Idahosa(BJ Foundation FC) and Darlington Ogbefun, Chairman Eagle Wings FC, paid a solidarity visit to Bendel Insurance FC over the violent attack they suffered at Remo recently.

According to the Chairman, Edo Football Association Comrade Rolland Abu in his address, the Benin Arsenal got the nod to represent the state after a unanimous decision by the major football stakeholders in the state, including the proprietors and coaches of the semifinalists in the competition which started last week Thursday.

“We considered the psychological trauma and other physical injuries Insurance suffered in Remo attack and their capacity to give the rest of us in Edo football family, adequate representation during the competition before arriving at our decision. We do not expect Insurance to horridly play at a time like this when some of their players and officials are still under medication”. Abu said.

Meanwhile, the Edo Football Association and other football stakeholders in the state have condemned the violent attack on Bendel Insurance FC at Remo Stars Stadium in Ijenne Ogun state on Sunday, June 6,2021 during their NNL week 21 game.

The chairman of the EFA, Comrade Rolland Abu made the position of the EFA and other stakeholders known today in Benin when his team in company of the chairman, Dynamite Force FC Bernard Jomah , Darlington Ogbeifun, Chairman, Eagle Wings FC, Douglas Idahosa, Head coach, BJ Foundation FC with Edo Football Head coach Osayomore Aghahowa and others visited Bendel Insurance FC over the Remo attack.
The visitors who expressed disappointment over the attack, encouraged Insurance to be strong, assuring them of continued support.

” We are visiting you after a week of the attack on you doesn’t mean we do not care about you. We want you to know that we are very concerned and worried that a big club like Remo could descend to the level of Barbarism and hooliganism in the 21st century. The Barbaric act of Remo is capable of bringing Nigeria’s football to disrepute if not checked.”Abu reacted.

Responding, Insurance Chief coach Bernard Ogbe and Captain Maurice Prince expressed the club’s appreciation to the visitors for their solidarity with Insurance and promised the Edo FA that Insurance will not however misrepresent the state home or away in spite of the unfair treatments they have suffered in the Nigeria National League.