Yussuf Alli attributes Bendel Insurance's promotion to NPFL to Edo government doggedness 

The Executive Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC) Yussuf Alli has attributed the promotion of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin to the support of the Executive Governor Godwin Obaseki and his amiable and sports-loving Deputy Philip Shaibu.

The Benin Arsenal gained promotion back to the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL after securing a two-nil win over Ikorodu FC at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Said Alli, ‘’ the Governor and Deputy gave us we needed to ensure the team get the promotion. Apart from financial assistance, they are passionate about the team and the performances of the players, they followed the team’s performances in every game.

Alli also praised members of the board of the ESSC, the permanent secretary, the team technical crew and management and especially the players whose efforts on the field ensured that Bendel Insurance is back in the elite division.

Alli said the state government is not going to sleep and be contended with the promotion to the premier league. He revealed that plans are in place to ensure that Bendel Insurance not remain in the elite for a long time but is also among the top contenders for the league title and plays continental football,

‘’ At the Commission level, we the board members and the Commission’s Permanent Secretary and meeting with the management of the team and very soon we shall submit a plan to the government that will ensure will retain our premiership status forever but also ensure that we win the league and get a continental ticket’’ said Alli.