Edo gives Insurance’s players, coaches three-match ultimatum

• Plans to audit, restructure club
Edo State government has threatened to sack players and coaches of Bendel Insurance Football Club if they failed to show intention of qualifying for the Premier League.

In an interactive session with the club players and officials, Commissioner for Youths and Special Duties, Mika Amanokha also told the coaching crew and players that qualification of the club to the elite division of the Nigeria league was not negotiable.

Amanokha, who bemoaned the losing spree of the club in recent matches, mandated the team to ensure that they win their next three matches.

While noting that the state government has remained committed to the players’ welfare and provision of training facilities, he said the team has, however, failed to reciprocate by winning matches.

“I really do not know what is happening but whatever it is, we need to deal with it and start winning matches.

“I can’t really understand why the same club was winning matches when they had issues of welfare and other problems; but now, with prompt payment of salaries, bonuses and better players, they are not doing better.

“It is for this reason that am here, not to talk to you but for us to interact to know what the problem is and for us to deal with it together.

“To me, you future does not lie with Insurance alone, you are playing for a better future beyond Insurance; you are playing to be spotted by bigger clubs even outside the continent.”

“It is for this reason that am mandating you to ensure that you win your next three matches unfailingly,” he stated.
Amanokha also informed the players of the government intention to restructure the club.

“The restructuring is that those who are not adding value to the club will be excused. It is for that reason that I want to know the number of players and their roles in the team, so also the number of coaches and their roles.

“This is very important because Insurance is not a charitable organization”

Some of the players, who spoke at the parley, acknowledged that there were issues among the players, adding that they have resolved to work for the club’s success.