Venue:
Bendel Insurance Football Club, popularly known as Insurance, is a Nigerian professional football club based in Benin City, Edo State.
The club was founded in 1972 and has since been a participant in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), which is the top tier of Nigerian football.
In this section, we will delve deeper into the history, achievements, and notable players of Bendel Insurance Football Club.
Bendel Insurance FC was founded in 1972 by the then Bendel State government with the aim of promoting grassroots football development in the state.
The club gained promotion to the NPFL in the 1972/1973 season and went on to become one of the most successful football clubs in Nigeria during the 1970s and 1980s.
Bendel Insurance FC has had some notable achievements in Nigerian football. The club has won two NPFL titles, in 1973 and 1979.
In addition, they have won the Nigerian FA Cup twice, in 1972 and 1978. Bendel Insurance FC also reached the final of the African Cup Winnersβ Cup in 1984, where they lost to Zamalek of Egypt.
Over the years, Bendel Insurance FC has produced several notable players who have gone on to play for the Nigerian national team and other top clubs in the country. Some of these players include:
The club was founded in 1972 and has since been a participant in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), which is the top tier of Nigerian football.
In this section, we will delve deeper into the history, achievements, and notable players of Bendel Insurance Football Club.
History
Bendel Insurance FC was founded in 1972 by the then Bendel State government with the aim of promoting grassroots football development in the state.
The club gained promotion to the NPFL in the 1972/1973 season and went on to become one of the most successful football clubs in Nigeria during the 1970s and 1980s.
Achievements
Bendel Insurance FC has had some notable achievements in Nigerian football. The club has won two NPFL titles, in 1973 and 1979.
In addition, they have won the Nigerian FA Cup twice, in 1972 and 1978. Bendel Insurance FC also reached the final of the African Cup Winnersβ Cup in 1984, where they lost to Zamalek of Egypt.
Notable Players
Over the years, Bendel Insurance FC has produced several notable players who have gone on to play for the Nigerian national team and other top clubs in the country. Some of these players include:
- Christian Chukwu: A former Bendel Insurance FC defender who is considered one of the greatest Nigerian footballers of all time. Chukwu played for the club during their most successful period in the 1970s and later went on to coach the Nigerian national team.
- Felix Owolabi: A midfielder who played for Bendel Insurance FC during their successful period in the 1970s. Owolabi later played for several other top NPFL clubs and the Nigerian national team.
- Henry Nwosu: A forward who played for Bendel Insurance FC in the 1980s. Nwosu later played for several other top NPFL clubs and the Nigerian national team, winning the African Cup of Nations in 1980 and 1994.
- Thompson Oliha: A midfielder who played for Bendel Insurance FC in the 1980s. Oliha later played for several other top NPFL clubs and the Nigerian national team, winning the African Cup of Nations in 1994.