EDO State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has expressed government’s readiness to support Bendel Insurance Football Club. Governor Oshiomhole’s assurance followed Chief Oyuki Jackson Obaseki’s appeal on Thursday at the closing and awards ceremony of Edo State Baptist Conference Sports Festival in Baptist High School Sports Ground, Benin City.
“Despite many challenges that we love, because there are many areas begging for attention, we will do something! We will provide the necessary support to Bendel Insurance”.
The sports loving Governor appreciated the effort of the young players at the ceremony and encouraged them adding that the ones that are well developed can be recruited into Bendel Insurance in future.
The Governor stressed the need to discover and develop grassroots sports in order to provide career for the young ones in future.
Bendel Insurance was relegated some years ago to the lower cadre of the Nigerian League.
The Benin Club has found it difficult to gain promotion to the premier league.
The state government football outfit was established in 1971by Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia when he was Military Governor of the defunct Midwest State.
The original name of the club was vipers but it was changed to Bendel Insurance when Dr. Ogbemudia handed it over to the Bendel Insurance Company to float it.
The club made remarkable successes in the football league challenge cup competition and international competitions in the past won challenge cup in 1978, WAFU Cup in 1992, 1993 and 1994.
She also won CAF cup in the same year in 1994.