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
Manager	Alabi Aisien
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.^[1]

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.^[2][3] 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 2008/09 5 Notable Former Players 6 Former Head Coaches 7 References 8 External links

[edit] 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 ^[4]. 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.

[edit] 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

[edit] Performance in CAF Competitions

• African Cup of Champions Clubs: 2 appearances

1974: Second Round

1980: Semi-Final

• CAF Confederation Cup: 1 appearance

2005 - Second Round

• CAF Cup: 1 appearance

1994 - Champion

• CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 3 appearances

1979 - Semi-Final

1982 - Second Round

[edit] Current Team 2008/09

No. Position Player Edwin Ezeodiawe Austin Ogunye Stanley Okoro Karimu Shaibu (capt.) Henry Uwadia OBIGWE EMMANUEL Adebowale Adekunle Festus Austin Adedeji Adewale Tosin Abdul Mutalib Nkeodi Kelechi Baba Mumuni Olabamji stamina Ismail Osarobo Iyekekpolor Augustine Iyamu Jude Okoye

Head coach: Roland Ewere (acting)

[edit] Notable Former Players

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

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

Former Players:

Valentine Odika Henry Ogboe David Adiele Peter Obanor Peter Egharevba Tarila Okorowanta Jesus Onyiums Roland Ewere Wahab Haruna George Ebojor Agwu Nnaji Sam Okpodu Felix Agbonifo Francis Moni-Dafe

Benedict Idahor Valentine Odika Ugochukwu Okeke John George Emeka Okonkwo Alfa Bayo Femi Emmanuel Ibrahim Akali-Dafe Damian Ogunsuyi John Omughele Lawrence Akpokona Chris Ogu Leotis Boateng Rufus Egele Monday Eguavoen

George Omokaro Francis Nwosu Antony Oviawie Festus Okuoghe Onyeme Uche Clement Osahon Monday Osagie Tunde Charity Prince Afejukwu Matthew Oyama Victor Omoreige Isaac Semitoje Haruna Doda Friday Elaho

Ebenizer Berger Ikponmwosa Omoregie Ifeanyi Onyemaka Baldwin Bazuaye Roland Warri Efom Bassey Gabriel Adeyor Charles Ihiemenkpen Tom Alabi Billy Okounofua Manga Omoruyi Edobor Igbinigie Abiodun Quadri Azuka Asemogha Mike Ndubisi Victor Igbinoba Francis Uhuegho

[edit] Former Head Coaches

• Godwin Uwua
• Sebastian Broderick–Imasuen

[edit] References

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

[edit] External links

• Bendel Insurance FC
• Nigeriasports.com
• The Punch
• Insurance FC’s crisis resolved as govt retakes ownership
• Insurance FC hires Ghanaians for speedy return to premiership
• Amodu heads panel on Bendel Insurance
• Oshiomhole, blessing to Edo sports - Izilien (Nigeria Tribune)
• Oshiomhole sets up management commitee for Insurance

Nigeria Football League Original Six v • d • e
ACB Lagos | Bendel Insurance | Mighty Jets | WNDC Ibadan (3SC) | Enugu Vasco da Gama | Octopus (Port Harcourt)

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