Bendel Insurance F.C.

Bendel Insurance FC

Full name	Bendel Insurance Football Club
Nickname(s)	Vipers, The Benin Arsenal
Founded	1972
Ground	Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City, Nigeria (Capacity: 20,000)
Chairman	Igbinowanhia Ekhousuehi[1]
Manager	Bright Omokaro[2]
League	Nigeria National League
Home colours Away colours

Bendel Insurance Football Club, also known as Insurance of Benin Football Club, is a soccer club based in Benin City, Nigeria. They were originally known as the Vipers of Benin. Their venue, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, has a capacity of some 20,000.^[3]

The club was one of the founders of the Nigerian Premier League in 1972. The team had its first month of the 2007-08 season delayed because of a management dispute over who controlled the team.^[4][5] They were relegated at the end of the 2007-08 season after finishing in last place, the first relegation from the top level in team history.

Contents 1 2008/09 2 Achievements 3 Performance in CAF competitions 4 Current team 5 Notable players 5.1 Famous 5.2 Former players 6 Notable coaches 7 References

2008/09

In August, 2008, the ownership crisis was settled and the Edo State government took control. Thus the name officially reverted to Bendel Insurance Football Club. However the financial problems continued throughout the season. In February 2009 Insurance was banned from using their stadium temporarily because it was not up to league standards. In March, they were one of eight teams threatened with having their participation suspended due to a backlog of debts and fines ^[6]. Finally, they were exiled to Ilorin for their final home game of the season after crowd trouble in a 1-1 tie against Shooting Stars FC that put an end to their promotion chances.

Achievements

• Nigeria Premier League: 2

1973, 1979

• Nigerian FA Cup: 3

1972, 1978, 1980

• CAF Cup: 1

1994

• West African Club Championship (UFOA Cup): 3

1993, 1994, 1995

Performance in CAF competitions

• African Cup of Champions Clubs: 2 appearances

1974: Second Round

1980: Semi-Finals

• CAF Confederation Cup: 1 appearance

2005 - Second Round

• CAF Cup: 1 appearance

1994 - Champion

• CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 2 appearances

1979 - Semi-Finals

1982 - Second Round

Current team

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player Edwin Ezeodiawe Austin Ogunye Stanley Okoro Karimu Shaibu (Captain) Henry Uwadia Emmanuel Obigwe Adebowale Adekunle Festus Austin Adedeji Adewale Tosin Abdul Mutalib Austin James

No. Position Player Japhet Joseph Nkeodi Kelechi Olabamji stamina Ismail Osarobo Iyekekpolor Augustine Iyamu Jude Okoye John Ufomba Harry Blankson Edosa Aigbuobaghian Steve Oboh FW Charles Udiefi Oluwasanmi

Notable players

Famous

Bawa Mumuni Olubayo Adefemi Julius Aghahowa Joseph Akpala Daddy Bazuaye Abubakar Bello-Osagie Justice Christopher Imadu Dooyum Uwa Elderson Echiéjilé Augustine Eguavoen Emeka Ifejiagwa

Pius Ikedia Kadiri Ikhana Peter Odemwingie Thompson Oliha Emmanuel Omodiagbe Harrison Omoko Wilson Oruma John Owoeri Clement Temile Ifeanyi Udeze Ambruse Vanzekin

Former players

Gabriel Adeyor David Adiele Prince Afejukwu Felix Agbonifo Ibrahim Akali-Dafe Lawrence Akpokona Tom Alabi Azuka Asemogha Okey Azuborgu Efom Bassey Alfa Bayo Baldwin Bazuaye Ebenizer Berger Leotis Boateng Tunde Charity Haruna Doda Sylvanus Ebiaku George Ebojor Humphrey Edobor

Rufus Egele Peter Egharevba Monday Eguavoen Friday Elaho Femi Emmanuel Roland Ewere John George Wahab Haruna Benedict Idahor Augustine Igbinadolor Edobor Igbinigie Victor Igbinoba Charles Ihiemenkpen Francis Moni-Dafe Ahmend Nalando Mike Ndubisi Agwu Nnaji

Francis Nwosu Peter Obanor Charles Obazee Nicholas Obido Valentine Odika Victor Odua Henry Ogboe Chris Ogu Damian Ogunsuyi Victor Okechukwu Brown Ugochukwu Okeke Emeka Okonkwo Tarila Okorowanta Billy Okounofua Sam Okpodu Festus Okuoghe Bright Omokaro George Omokaro

Ikponmwosa Omoregie Victor Omoreige Manga Omoruyi Osagie Omosigho John Omughele Ifeanyi Onyemaka Jesus Onyiums Oku Sunday Joshua Monday Osagie Clement Osahon Antony Oviawie Matthew Oyama Abiodun Quadri Isaac Semitoje Oshof Shogbene Onyeme Uche Francis Uhuegho Karimu Umoru Roland Warri Otwedoh Okoh Tailor Egede Victor Odua

Notable coaches

• Sebastian Broderick–Imasuen
• Alabi Essien
• Godwin Izilien (2007-2008)
• Godwin Uwua
• Elliot Williams

References

1. ^ Insurance suffers from Ebewele, Ekhosuehi war - The Punch
2. ^ Commissioner Sets Premier League Target for Omokaro
3. ^ "Stadiums in Nigeria". World Stadiums. http://www.worldstadiums.com/africa/countries/nigeria.shtml. Retrieved 2007-07-15. 
4. ^ "Insurance FC crisis started since 1995". NIGERIAN TRIBUNE. http://www.tribune.com.ng/15102007/news/sports5.html. Retrieved 2008-01-04. 
5. ^ "Osunbor summons Ebewele, Ekhosuehi - Insurance crisis latest". NIGERIAN TRIBUNE. http://tribune.com.ng/25092007/news/sports2.html. Retrieved 2008-01-04. 
6. ^ Insurance, El-Kanemi, others may lose league slots (Nigerian Compass)

Nigeria Football League Original Six ACB Lagos · Bendel Insurance · Mighty Jets F.C. · WNDC Ibadan (3SC) · Enugu Vasco da Gama · Octopus (Port Harcourt)