Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, has urged fans of sports in Edo to turn out in huge numbers on Saturday to support Bendel Insurance Football Club when they take on ASO Chlef FC of Algeria at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin.
On Saturday in Benin, the opening preliminary match of the 2023–24 CAF Confederations Cup is slated to take place between the Benin Arsenals and ASO Chlef of Algeria. The game will begin at 4:00 p.m.
The announcement was made by the Obaseki during a news conference on Wednesday at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City through his chief press secretary, Andrew Okungbowa, and the chairperson of the Edo State Sports Commission, Olympian Yusuf Alli.
According to Obaseki’s press secretary, the state government has allocated funds for 30 opulent (ECTS) buses.
Obaseki has made 30 opulent (ECTS) buses available to transport football fans to the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium on Saturday to support Bendel Insurance FC against ASO Chlef of Algeria in the first round preliminary match of the CAF Confederation Cup, according to the governor’s press secretary.
Mr. Okungbowa claims that the state government is exerting every effort to provide Insurance with the assistance required for them to defeat their rivals on Saturday.
“To us, this is historic, being that our darling team is playing at the continental level after many decades. Our Governor is very interested in the well-being of Bendel Insurance FC players and officials.
“The Governor is aware and appreciative of Bendel Insurance’s exploits in winning the Nigeria Football Federation Cup; hence, he has directed all of us to ensure that no stone is left unturned in ensuring that Insurance triumphs over their opponents, ASO Chlef, on Saturday.
“We want massive support for Bendel Insurance FC, and the Governor is starting the motivation of the players by training with them at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium.” Okungbowa stated.
The 30 buses, according to the managing director of Edo City Transport Services (ECTS), Hauwa Dupe Ohikhuare, who was also present at the conference, will be stationed at 10 critical routes in Benin City, the capital of Edo State.
She further stated that fans would be picked up and returned to their points of entry after the match.
The route includes Ramat Park, Ring Road by ECTS main Terminal at Mission Road, Ugbowo-Uniben Main Gate, and Oluku by NIFOR Junction.
Others include the Total Filling Station by New Benin, Gorretti and 3rd East Circular Junction, Winners Chapel by Sapele Road, the ADP and Estate Gate by Airport Road, Ojemai Farms by Upper Ekenhuan Road, Channel 55 by Upper Siluko Road, Pipeline and Idokpa Aduwawa axis, and the ADP and Estate Gate by Airport Road.
In order to have less work to do in the rematch on August 27 in Algeria, the Nigerian team in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup, Bendel Insurance, must defeat their Algerian opponents, ASO Chlef, by a significant margin on Saturday.
Speaking to sports journalists at the press conference, the Edo Sports Commission Chairman, Mr. Alli, urged massive support for Bendel Insurance in Saturday’s first-leg encounter.
He explained that the encounter is a must-win for the home team, hence the need for the people to come to the stadium en masse to cheer the team to victory.
“Our first match will be this Saturday. So we need the whole stadium filled up. We want full capacity, and that is why we are putting all these logistics in place.
“We have decided to throw the gates open, and we are going to be running jingles on radios about the match. The first 100 people to get to the stadium will get 100 free Insurance jerseys.
“On the transportation plans, we are providing buses at strategic routes and pick-up locations for Edo people so that the stadium can be full; we have 10 of such strategic routes.
“We are not just picking them up at the stadium, but we are returning them. At the point of entry, there will be issued free tickets to watch the match”.
