By Bolaji Jokanola
Former Bendel Insurance manager, Monday Odigie has finally broken his silence on the circumstances that led to his dramatic exit from Bendel Insurance F.C., revealing a troubling mix of unpaid salaries, administrative breakdown, and growing unrest within the club.
Odigie, who masterminded Insurance’s return to the top flight from the Nigeria National League, went unbeaten during the 2023 abridged season of the Nigeria Premier Football League and capped it off with a historic Federation Cup triumph, made these revelations during an interview on Nigeria Info with David Adesina on the Inside the NPFL segment of The FATG Show.
According to the respected tactician, cracks within the system began to show when players signed between July and October were left unpaid for months.
“Being a government club and a change of government, players who got signed from July to October 2024 were not paid salaries. I tried to fight for them,” Odigie disclosed.
He described a deeply unprofessional environment where leadership absence created chaos.
“The chairman at the time (Philip Shaibu) was no longer active with the club. That created room for too many external influences distracting the team. I made them understand, no team can function like that.”
Odigie drew a firm line, insisting on structure and accountability. “It was simple, either the club does the right thing, or I stay away.”
But the breaking point came on a matchday. After a home draw, tensions escalated beyond control as individuals reportedly confronted and harassed players. A situation Odigie found unacceptable.
“They came harassing the players. I said no, this cannot happen. It never used to happen, and in modern football, it shouldn’t.”
The issues, however, ran deeper than matchday chaos. Odigie revealed that several contractual agreements remained unsigned weeks into the season, leaving players in uncertainty.
He further pointed to systemic instability not only in Bendel Insurance but also the NPFL including changes in government and club personnel as key factors behind the club’s inability to sustain progress.
“There is an inability to deal with progress. Change of government, change of personnel everything affects the structure.”
Drawing comparisons, Odigie hinted that such challenges are not isolated, referencing similar situations in Bayelsa State, reason why he left the club earlier this season, three weeks into coaching the side.
“After three weeks, no contracts were coming. I had to step back. We were all working under unprofessional conditions.” He revealed.