Bendel Insurance yesterday finally defeated Heartland FC in a hard-fought 1-0 win in the matchday 32 fixture of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
Heartland who have had a poor season before this game had won all their previous league meetings with their hosts.
The hosts controlled the game but were unable to break through till the 82nd minute when Sarki Ismael broke the deadlock to end the winless run to further heap more misery on their visitors.
With this win, the ‘Benin Arsenal’ are now 8th on the table with 45 points, while the ‘Nazi Millionaire’ are 19th with 29 points.
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In the other game played, Doma United were held to a goalless draw at home by visiting Kwara United.
Meanwhile, a former chairman of Gombe State Football Association (FA), Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara has urged the Minister of Sports, Sen John Enoh to clean up his ministry before inviting the private sector to invest in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Speaking with our correspondent, the sports administrator said it was not the right time for the private sector to invest in the league as the ecosystem, according to him, is wrought with a lack of transparency and corruption.
He made this point following the ongoing efforts by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, to woo Nigerian billionaires to own clubs.
It will be recalled that Enoh confirmed foremost businessman, Tony Elumelu’s interest in purchasing an NPFL club after a recent meeting in Lagos.
Enoh disclosed further that the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, United Bank for Africa (UBA) is willing to convince his fellow billionaires to come on board.
“The issue is not about the investment, the issue is that we are not ready. We are not transparent, we are not accountable and we are not promoting our game well.
“How can we bring men who have built a reputation over the years and soil their names. We have had Glo, and SuperSports among others come in to invest in the past, it never ended well because of lack of transparency, greed and corruption. It is good for them to invest but this is not the right time. There was a time a Zenith Bank came on board, they pulled out later on.
“The minister should clean his ministry first before inviting the private sector to invest in the league and in general sports,” he advised.
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