Timothy Omobude 
Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin have further proved doubters wrong as they handed their archrivals Remo Stars of Ikenne a heavy 3-0 and first defeat of the season in one of the week four games of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on Saturday, January 28,2023.
Pre-season friendly: Bendel Insurance pip Kwara Utd ,face Unilorin, Okaa Sports Teams
Imade Osarenkhoe,Sarki Ismael and Austin Ogunye grabbed beautiful goal each for the Benin Arsenal to demystify
the visiting Remo Stars and opened up a three-point lead at the top of Group A of the abridged League.
The home side opened their goal account early in the heavily hyped game when the Benin Arsenals’ goal poacher Imade Osehenkhoe scored in the sixth minute. It was made easy for him after Sarki’s attemp had slowed down the speed of
Osas Okoro’s well-taken corner kick which landed well inside the box as the lanky striker smartly tapped the ball into the net with first touch.
Sarki Ismael doubled the lead for the Benin Arsenals in the 26th minute, after pouncing on a loose ball from Remo’s goalie, Kayode Bankole’s groaping hands and promptly shot it into the net to send the home fans into wild jubilation.
Andy Okpe had a couple of decent chances to level up for the away side but couldn’t complete the task before Sarki struck to further deflate the southwestern team.
In the second half, Remo Stars came out offensive, but were unable to create any big chance as the Insurance tight defense manned by Tanimu Benjamin and Sunday Anyanwu was too hard for the Ikenne boys to break .
The league leaders wrapped up the victory when substitute Austin Ogunye added the third goal of the day in the 78th minute following Divine Nwachukwu’s fine assist.
The Sky Blue Stars tried to pull one back, 10 minutes before the end of regulation time but Okpe was unlucky again as his shot went straight into the waiting Amas Obasogie magnetic gloves.
With the scoreline, Bendel Insurance maintain their lead in group A with 12 points after four games,three points clear of Remo Stars whose unbeaten run and clean sheet have been destroyed in Benin.
Insurance remain unbeaten after playing four matches,winning all in style.
The Benin Arsenals will be travelling to Maiduguri on Wednesday with confidence to face El-kanelmi Warriors in week five engagement.
Speaking during the post match interview, coach Monday Odigie of Bendel Insurance was grateful to God for the very good result against Remo Stars,adding that he was happy his boys converted their chances and won. He maintained that mistakes cost good teams most times.
Coach Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo Stars on the other hand congratulated Bendel Insurance, noting that some mistakes made by his boys cost them.
” We conceded cheat three goals. My team didn’t do badly but we made some costly mistakes and Insurance took advantage of them. It wasn’t our day. ” He said.
