NPFL26 MD20: Enabulele urges Bendel Insurance to set new target, strive for laurels

...As team begins league second stanza at Kwara United

As the second round of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) begins on Wednesday with Matchday 20 fixtures across the nation,Bendel Insurance Football Club are guests at Kwara United in a revised fixture in Ilorin.

‎ The Benin Arsenals defeated the Harmony Boys 2-0

on Saturday, December 27 and ended the first round of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season on a high after the Matchday 19 encounter played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

‎Emmanuel Akpan and Kayode Oke scored for the Benin Arsenals in the 20th and 42rd minute to secure the important three points that lifted the coach Kennedy Boboye 's side to 9th position on the league table.

Bendel Insurance FC arrived in Ilorin on Monday evening ahead of the midweek clash , looking good to continue with their impressive performances since Boboye took over as the technical manager of the club in October.

Addressing the team ahead of the second round kickoff, the Executive Chairman,Edo State Sports Commission Hon Amadin Desmond Enabulele expressed appreciation for the progress the team has made, with the swift turnaround witnessed recently.

He challenged the players to set new targets for themselves and strive to accomplish the target as they begin the second round of the season.

He told them that achieving top three finish for continental tickets this season is possible and still within the reach of the club. He urged them not to lose focus and the steam that has propelled them to the present position on the table

" Let me once again congratulate all of us and thank you guys for renewing our hope. Your performances in the last seven games have been amazing. We in the management are happy and proud of you. We want you to maintain the tempo as you go into the second round with the revised fixture against Kwara Utd.

" I will redeem my pledge before the match on Wednesday and when you return with good result,I will do more for you. We want Laurels and you should be hungry for one. I challenge you to set the target and work towards it,then see what our government can do for you. Get continental tickets and earn money in dollars ". He encouraged the team.

The players in their response, promised to deliver, saying that they cannot afford to let their chairman and the club management down. According to the captain Efe Enabulele," the management and our honourable chairman have done well in the area of motivation for us,so it is our obligation to give you what you want which is result. We thank you our chairman for believing in our ability to bounce back. Thank God we have been able to recover from the early setback and now we are stable and making progress. We assure you of our loyalty and dedication." Efe concluded.

The Harmony Boys versus Bendel Insurance clash on Wednesday is scheduled to kickoff at 4:00 pm at Ilorin Township stadium. #