Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Bendel Insurance not invincible, says Gombe United coach

Bendel Insurance will host Gombe United at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium Benin.

• February 4, 2023
Aliyu Zubairu, Technical Adviser of Gombe United
Aliyu Zubairu, Technical Adviser of Gombe United

Aliyu Zubairu, Technical Adviser of Gombe United, says Bendel Insurance of Benin is not invincible, although they are a good team, having maintained 100 per cent record this season.

Zubairu said this on Saturday through a telephone interview in Gombe.

He said the match against Insurance was nothing special or different from other matches his team had played in the ongoing 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

He said that the fact that Insurance had played five matches so far this season and secured all maximum points, showed that the team was good and highly motivated.

“Insurance are beatable, the fact that they have won all the matches does not mean they can’t lose; of course they can lose.”

“They are a good side but they are not an unstoppable side,” Zubairu said.

He said that his boys were equal to the task and were ready to get the result that would shock everyone.

“People are going to see a different ball game today (Saturday) and I believe the result will surprise everyone.”

Asked if his team would break the jinx against Insurance, Zubairu said: “I am not the type of coach that would start saying the end result of a match not yet played.

“But definitely, I know we will come out with something from the match,” he said.

He said that his boys were highly motivated by the mid-week victory against Shooting Stars and with that confidence, his team would pull something against Insurance that would shock every club in the league.

“The fact that the win was the first out of the five matches we have played, it is going to be a turning point for the players.

“Majority of the players are young and have not tasted a win in the NPFL, most of them were yet to play in the NPFL prior to coming to Gombe United.

“The result will make them believe it is achievable to win matches and it will boost their morale, going into today’s (Saturday) match against Bendel Insurance.

Bendel Insurance will host Gombe United at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium Benin.

Gombe United have played five matches this season with three draws, a win and a loss and are sixth on the log with six points from a possible 15.

On its part, Bendel Insurance have won five in five and have scored the most goals (nine) while conceding just once and are top of the Group A abridged 2022/2023 NPFL.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Blood pressure check

NationWide

Cardiologist raises concern over sudden deaths, urges heart checks 

Mr Fasan said cardiovascular diseases were becoming an increasing concern in Nigeria.

Troops rescue 27 kidnap victims

States

Troops rescue 27 kidnap victims in Katsina operation against terrorists

Mr Danja said the troops received a distress call about the activities of terrorists on Friday.

Policemen at the Lekki Toll Gate

Lagos

#EndSARS: Police fire teargas at ADC, NDC governorship candidates, others at Lekki Toll Gate

The event, organised by the Enough is Enough Movement, was disrupted by the police officers deployed to the venue.

Peter Obi

Heading 1

I didn’t tell Nigerians abroad to reject money requests from home: Obi

NDC chieftain, in a statement on Tuesday, said his statement was twisted.

Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia

States

Benue ​‌⁠​‍‍⁠⁠‍​⁠⁠⁠‍‍​‍‌​demands collective action to strengthen VAPP law implementation

Mrs Ikwue attributed some social challenges confronting the country to insecurity and declining family values