Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin announced the signing of 18 new players while confirming the departure of 13 others from the team, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
The Benin Arsenals are bringing in 13 new players to bolster their squad following the departure of 13 players from the squad as previously announced by the club.
The signings vetted by Monday Odigie will prosecute the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League season as well as the Federation Cup for the Benin based team.
Key signings include former Enyimba midfielder James Oronsaye and striker Uche Collins, both of whom were introduced to the public on September 3, 2024. Other notable additions are Kayode Oke from 3SC, Goalkeeper Suleiman Dogo from Kwara Utd, Emmanuel Ugwu from Dakkada FC, and Moses Ajiboye from Nasarawa Utd. The club also signed Isaac Ajibola from Sporting Lagos, Chinedu Onyinjekwe from Fame FC, Uche Martins from Rangers, Jesse Kelechi from Crown FC, Nazir Mohammed from the academy, Stephen Bekewe from Bayelsa Utd, and Martin Owolija from Tornadoes, among others.
Edo State Sports Commission Chairman, Olympian Yussuf Alli, expressed confidence in Coach Monday Odigie and his team’s potential to excel this season, urging them to start strong with a victory against Rivers Utd on September 8, 2024. The match will take place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m.
The club also confirmed the departure of 13 players from the previous season, including stand-in captain and award-winning goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, who has signed with a club in Ethiopia. Other outgoing players are Sunday Anyanwu, Ebuka Akobundu, Kelly Oahaimije Kester, Paul Obata, Evans Ogbonda, Jude Ebohon, Sarki Ismael, Chukwudi Meze, Chisom Okereke, Osaghae Junior, Wisdom Stephen, and Divine Nwanchukwu.
Of the 2022 squad that secured promotion to the NPFL on the last day and won the Federation Cup the following season, only two players remains at the club (Dede Muoghara and Stephen Sodje)