Former Bayelsa United left-back, Adamu Yazid’s goal in the 5th minute helped Bendel Insurance win the Bayelsa Pre-season Football with a one-nil win over Warri Wolves, becoming champions in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Bendel Insurance reached the final of the Governor Diri Pre-season tournament last year but lost to the host, Bayelsa United, 4-3 on penalty shootout after a one-all draw in regulation time at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
Warri Wolves defeated Bayelsa United to advance to the final of the tournament.
Insurance Wins Bayelsa Pre-season Football: Tournament Good For NPFL Preparations
Victorious Bendel Insurance Head Coach, Greg Ikhenoba, noted that the competition has shown that the players are ready for the new season, stressing that the Bayelsa Pre-season Football Tournament has also allowed the new players in the squad to showcase themselves.
Meanwhile, Warri Wolves Head Coach, Napoleon Alumua, in his post-match interview, said his team is fully prepared for the new NPFL season, maintaining that he is happy with the significant progress of his team, describing the competition as timely.
Bayelsa Pre-season Football Tournament: Good Preparation For NPFL Teams
Also, a former member of the CAF Medical Committee, Dr. Peter Singabele, remarked that there is no victor, no vanquished, that the tournament has helped all the participating teams to have good preparation for the new NPFL season.
While congratulating the champions, Bendel Insurance, he opined that Bayelsa State is not desperate to win the tournament despite being the host. He equally appreciated the Bayelsa Government for hosting the tournament.
However, Bayelsa Pre-season Football Tournament coordinator, Mr Diseye Nwankwe, revealed that the competition was to prepare Bayelsa United for a productive 2025/2026 NPFL season.
He commended the participating teams for showing professionalism throughout the tournament, adding that the Bayelsa Pre-season Football Tournament has come to stay, and that the competition would get bigger yearly.
Organizers Grateful To Governor Diri
According to Mr. Nwankwe, teams in the NPFL have already contacted the tournament organizers to partake in next year’s edition due to the visibility of the tournament.
Also, Nwankwe commended the Governor, Senator Douye Diri, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and the Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, for ensuring that Bayelsa continues to be a hub of sport in the nation.
Bendel Insurance and Warri Wolves will focus on the Nigeria Premier Football League, starting next weekend.
