Having qualified for next month’s Super Six playoff without losing a match in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), abridged league, Bendel Insurance FC’s aim is to qualify for next season’s CAF Champions League, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shuaibu has stated.
Bendel Insurance, Remo Stars,
Enyimba International,
Rivers United, Lobi Stars and
Sunshine Stars will compete in the Super Six playoff to decide the 2023 NPFL Champion. The Super Six playoff has scheduled to hold at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos from June 3 until June 11 2023.
Speaking with the media after a visit to the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, in Abuja Thursday, the Edo State Deputy Governor stated that Bendel Insurance will be well supported to get one of the tickets to play continental football next season.
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“When we got promoted from the NNL, our plan was to consolidate our position in the NPFL and remain there, but fortunately for us, we qualified for Super Six. So qualifying for Champions League is now our target and we shall give it our best in Lagos,” Shaibu who also featured as a registered player in the team that won promotion told reporters.
“Our being unbeaten in the league is a result of good management of the team. We have compact, dedicated and passionate management that propelled the team to whatever heights they have reached.
“The players and coaches also did their jobs very well to go unbeaten for the first time in the history of Nigeria Football and I hope they remain unbeaten in the Super Six.”
Shaibu narrated how the team was rebranded with the downsizing of the overstaff and inauguration of modern-day management of a professional club, adding that the Edo State government, the owners of the club, sent a team to study how Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are managed successfully and the outcome of those trips are what Bendel insurance are using to get results.
On the sustainability of the high standards set after leaving office, Comrade Shuaibu said the Edo State government has mapped out plans that will sustain the club and even stand firmly on its own without government support in future
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“Recently, the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, approved the building of an ultra-modern camp for Bendel Insurance FC. That camp will also have other facilities that will serve other purposes that will generate funds for the club,” Shaibu explained.
“We are also looking at merchandise to capitalize Bendel Insurance. That is the only way to sustain Bendel Insurance Football Club.”
By Richard Jideaka, Abuja
