Friday’s CAF Confederation Cup match between Bendel Insurance FC of Benin and RSB Berkane of Morocco will be exciting and qualitative, an Edo Government official has promised.Sixtus Omokhagbor, Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor on Sports, gave the assurance in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Omokhagbor said Friday’s match, which is the first leg game, will take place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. “We are looking forward to receiving them. I am using this medium to invite fans to come and cheer our team to victory while behaving as true fans should, by being great hosts to the visiting team,” he said.
When asked if the late commencement of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) did not affect the Benin club’s preparations, the official said it did. “Ideally, the league and CAF Champions Cup should happen at the same time, so that the players can be in their best form. But what we have done is to organise friendly matches, and last week, we had one against Sporting Lagos FC.
“The State Government did this because it understands the need for match fitness. In camp, morale is equally high, and the players are in good spirits.
“Having done our due diligence and home support, we hope to win this first tie,” Omokhagbor said.
Greg Ikhenoba, the Assistant Manager of Bendel Insurance, also said the morale of their players was high as they have adequately trained in camp ahead of the encounter. “Players are in camp, and it has been a learning turf. They are in high spirits. The blend of old and new hands will give us the result we are looking for, by God’s grace. We will do our part.
“We are aware of the need to tie all loose ends,” he said.
NAN reports that Bendel Insurance defeated ASO Chlef FC of Algeria 4 – 3 via penalty shootout to advance to the next stage of the competition.(NAN)
