Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, unveiled new sets of dri-fit quality jerseys for Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens Football Clubs, both of Benin. Shaibu made a commitment to work towards raising the performance and profiles of both clubs to global standard in the foreseeable future.
“When you put on the jersey, it gives you the confidence to play well” he said. We give out new Jersey to each player for every match”. “We do not wash jerseys for the next match in Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens”.
The Deputy Governor unveiled three sets of jerseys for Bendel Insurance. One is green with yellow stripes, the other is yellow with green stripes, while the third is white with green stripes.
For Edo Queens, two sets of jerseys were unveiled. One is yellow with red stripes and the other is red with yellow stripes.
Performing the Jersey unveiling formalities in a colourful ceremony at the new Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, the Deputy Governor was accompanied by Barrister Osarodion Ogie and Tunde Adeola, the Secretary to the Edo State Government and Executive Director, Sterling Bank PLC, respectively.
Also in attendance were celebrated ex-footballers, coaches, sports administrators, head of media stations, media and sports personalities from across the length and breadth of the country.
In his speech, Tunde Adeola of Sterling Bank commended the Edo State Government for its vision towards human capacity building. He further observed that the commitment of the Edo State Government to development across spheres was visionary and would better the lives of the youth and other segments of society.
Adeola maintained that Sterling Bank would continue to be part of the success story of the Obaseki administration in Edo State.
Mr Tunde Adeola, Executive Director of Sterling Bank, reassured that their partnership with Insurance will be sustained, maintaining that Sterling Bank remains Insurance sponsor.
Recalling that Sterling Bank is the sponsor of the Bendel Insurance Football Club, Adeola re-echoed Governor Obaseki’s promise to provide Insurance FC and their supporters club with new executive travel buses as part of its encouragement.
Comrade Philip Shaibu, expressed appreciation to the sponsors – Peculiar Ultimate and Sterling Bank PLC for keeping faith with the teams.
He reiterated that Sterling Bank PLC has been the sponsor of Bendel Insurance FC since last season with a N50M package and has improved the package this season, following the promotion of the club to the NPFL.
He noted that the Edo State Government was the first to break the jinx that placed female and male footballers on different pay structures, adding that footballers of both clubs were on the same pay structure and get their salaries on or before the 24th day of each month.
Representatives of Wesley Hotels, Big Joe Motors, Ford Mart , Okomu Oil, among others were present to support and launch the jersey unveiling.
The Bendel Insurance will be filing out in their new jerseys in their subsequent NPFL games, beginning from the Wednesday, January 18 fixture against Plateau Utd at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
Recall that Insurance defeated Akwa Utd in the NPFL 2023 curtain raiser, on the back of two first half two goals by Imade Osarenkhoe and Sarki Ismael, in Uyo last Sunday.
