…Provides 30 free buses, 100 Jerseys for fans mobilization
The Governor of Edo State Mr. Godwin Obaseki has called on sports-loving Edo people to come out in large numbers to cheer Bendel Insurance Football Club to victory against ASO Chlef FC of Algeria on Saturday, August 19, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
The Benin Arsenals and the Algerian opponents ASO Chlef are scheduled to lock horns in the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup’s first preliminary game on Saturday in Benin City. Kick-off time is 4:00 PM.
The Governor made the call through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr, Andrew Okungbowa and the Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, Olympian Yusuf Alli during a press conference on Wednesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary Andrew Okungbowa disclosed that the state government has made provision for 30 luxurious (ECTS) buses available to convey football fans to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to cheer Bendel Insurance FC to victory against ASO Chlef of Algeria in the first-round preliminary match of CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday.
According to Okungbowa, the state government is doing everything possible to give Insurance the support needed for them to triumph over their opponents on Saturday.
“To us, this is historic being that our darling team is playing at the continental level after many decades. Our Governor is very interested in the well-being of Bendel Insurance FC players and officials. The Governor is aware and appreciative of Bendel Insurance’s exploits, winning the Nigeria Football Federation Cup, hence he has directed all of us to ensure that no stone is left unturned in ensuring that Insurance triumph over their opponents ASO Chlef on Saturday.
“We want massive support for Bendel Insurance FC and the Governor is starting the motivation of the players by training with them at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium tomorrow,” Okungbowa emphasized.
The Managing Director of Edo City Transport Services (ECTS), Mrs. Hauwa Dupe Ohikhuare who was also present at the conference confirmed the readiness and availability of the 30 buses that will be stationed at 10 strategic routes in Benin City, Edo State Capital.
According to the ECTS boss, the fans would be picked and returned to their points of entry after the match.
The 10 locations for the free bus ride to the stadium include; Agbor Road-axis -Ramat park; King Square – 1 Mission Road and ECTS main terminal; Ugbowo pick up point- Main Gate and ECTS turning point at Oluku/NIFFOR Junction; Sapele Road- Winners Chapel.
Others are; Airport Road – ADP Junction & Estate Gate; Ekenwa axis – Ojemai farms; Siluko/Ogida – Channel 55; Aduwawa/ Eyan Axis- Pipeline & Idokpa Town Hall. New Benin; Mission Road by Total Junction and Upper Sakponba- Goretti and 3rd East Circular Junction.
The Nigerian representative in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup, Bendel Insurance hosts Algerian counterparts ASO Chlef in a tie which the Benin Arsenals must win by a wide margin on Saturday in order to have less work to do in the reverse fixture in Algeria on August 27.
Addressing sports journalists during the press conference, the Edo Sports Commission Chairman, Olympian Yusuf Alli, urged massive support for Bendel Insurance in Saturday’s first-leg encounter.
Yusuf maintained that the encounter is a must-win for the home team, hence, the need for the people to come to the stadium en-masse to cheer the team to victory.
“Our first match will be this Saturday. So, we need the whole stadium filled up. We want a full capacity and that is why we are putting all these logistics in place.
“We have decided to throw the gates open and we are going to be running jingles on radios about the match. The first 100 people that will get to the stadium will get 100 free Insurance jerseys.
“On the transportation plans, we are providing buses at strategic routes and pick-up locations for Edo people so that the stadium can be full, we have 10 of such strategic routes.
“We are not just picking them to the stadium, but we are returning them. At the point of entering, they will be issued free tickets to watch the match,” Yusuf said.
It would be recalled that in 1994, the club from Benin City, Bendel Insurance Football Club went all the way in the CAF Cup now CAF Confederation Cup, defeating Primeiro Maio of Angola in the 2nd leg of the final match played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium 3-0 after losing the first in Angola 1-0.
