Bendel Insurance aims for NPFL title as new season kicks off

Bendel Insurance chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, believes the Benin Arsenals can finally win the Nigeria Premier Football League title after 47 years. He said this while talking to reporters about Edo Queens’ CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU B campaign in Burkina Faso. He is sure that the club's preparations have set them up to seriously challenge for the title.

Bendel Insurance will start their NPFL27 season on Sunday, August 30, against Warri Wolves at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. The match is set to kick off at 4 p.m.

The club last won the league title in 1973 and 1979. They finished fifth in the last two seasons and are now aiming for a third league crown. Tenebe mentioned that better recruitment, preparations, and player incentives will boost the team’s chances of winning the championship.

He recalled that scoring goals was a big problem when he became chairman last season. To solve this, he introduced financial rewards for players for every goal scored.

“When I joined Bendel Insurance FC last year as chairman of the club, they were at the bottom of the table,” Tenebe said.

“The first thing I did was to tie a certain amount of money to every goal scored. Each goal actually attracted a reasonable amount of money, and that changed everything.”

He explained that this incentive helped the team perform better and allowed Insurance to finish strong last season, just missing out on a spot for continental competitions.

Tenebe is pleased with how this initiative worked, saying the club has built on last season’s lessons to prepare for the new one.

“I’m happy the strategy worked for us, and we almost secured a place on the continent. I have the confidence that we are going to get it right this time with the preparations we have made,” he said.

His excitement comes as football gains more attention in Edo State. Edo Queens are also doing well in the CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU B qualifiers in Burkina Faso.

For Bendel Insurance, the main goal is clear: to turn their improved preparations into a title-winning NPFL season and bring the league trophy back to Benin City.