By Kehinde Osagiede
Bendel Insurance are braced for another fierce rivalry encounter as they travel to Ibadan to take on Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in a Matchday 13 fixture of the EUROMATCH Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Friday, November 13.
The match kicks off 6pm and will be streamed live on MBI YouTube channel.
The encounter, scheduled to hold at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba in Ibadan promises to be an exciting contest as both sides seek to strengthen their positions on the league table.
Bendel Insurance head into the match in impressive form, occupying second position with 21 points from 12 matches.
The Benin Arsenals have recorded seven victories and suffered five defeats so far this season, and will be hoping to maintain their impressive run with a positive result against their traditional rivals.
Shooting Stars, on the other hand, will be desperate to return to winning ways after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Barau FC in their previous outing.
The Oluyole Warriors currently occupy 13th position with 15 points from 12 matches, having recorded four wins, three draws and five defeats. A victory on home soil would provide a significant boost to their campaign and help improve their standing on the league table. But they look to be facing their biggest challenges this season as the Benin Arsenals are currently on fire.
The two sides have a history of fiercely contested encounters, with Shooting Stars claiming a hard-fought 1-0 victory when they hosted Bendel Insurance last season.
However, Friday’s showdown presents another opportunity for the Benin Arsenals to challenge the Ibadan side, particularly with their attack-minded approach and growing confidence under Bendel Insurance head coach Kennedy Boboye.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Boboye said his players are mentally prepared for the challenge, insisting that Bendel Insurance would approach the game with the same winning mentality regardless of the venue and time.
The former NPFL-winning coach charged his players to approach every game like champions if they are serious about winning the league title and ending the club’s prolonged wait for major silverware.
”We only respect other big clubs like us, but we are actually not afraid of any team in the league. We always approach each opponent with a winning mentality and self-belief, whether we are playing at home or away.
”We don’t believe in home advantage. We only pray for good officiating,” Boboye said.
He added that Bendel Insurance have travelled to Ibadan to play good football and fight for the maximum points.
With both teams having much at stake, Friday’s encounter is expected to produce another thrilling chapter in the rivalry between the two historic clubs.
While Shooting Stars will be counting on home support to secure a much-needed victory, Bendel Insurance will be determined to maintain their strong position on the table and demonstrate their title aspiration credentials.