Chief Coach of Bendel Insurance, Monday Odovie fielding questions from journalists
By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
It was not quite a happy day for the Benin Arsenals; Bendel Insurance FC and their supporters as the visitors; RS Berkane of Morocco forced the team to 2-2 draw in Benin, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The teams clashed in the first leg of the second preliminary game of the 2023 Caf Confederation Cup tournament.
Saturday, 16 September, 2023 turned out not to be a favourable day for the home team, as it rained all day firstly, making the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium turf very messy to play football.
However, in the very bad pitch; water logged, Bendel Insurance FC tried playing some resemblance of good football.
Though the visitors attempted springing surprise by getting an early goal; but their effort was rebuffed by the Amas Obasogie led defence.
As both teams struggled to out smart each other with the ball often obstructed from moving smoothly on the water logged turf, the Benin Arsenals managed to pile pressure on the visitors with the Osarenkhoe Imade led front, desperately in search of the opening goal.
The opening goal for Bendel Insurance FC eventually came in the 29th minute of play, through Imade when the goal keeper poorly punched off Taminu Benjamin’s shot within the periphery of the 18 yard box.
Not long after, the efforts of the Benin Arsenals to have firm grip on the game was thwarted, when Hamza Moussaoui of RS Berkane lashed on a loose ball off a feeble goal keeping by Amas; to record the equaliser at 39 minutes of play.
After two minutes added time, first half of the game ended with 1-1 draw for both teams.
In the first half of the game, the referee punished the home team for foul play with two yellow cards, while RS Berkane had one.
On resumption of the second half, in the 48 minutes of play,
Bendel Insurance FC was awarded free kick at the edge of the opponent’s 18 yard box but failed to convert for goal.
Thereafter, the game continued in the rain making difficult, smooth play of the ball and Haruna Abubakar of Bendel Insurance FC, had to be substituted for Vincent Augustus at the 54 minutes.
Acting on the instruction of coach Monday Odigie, Vincent putting himself in middle of the pack; in the 18 yard box of the visitors, scored the second goal for his side to make it 2-1 in their favour at 60 minutes of the game.
In a bid to defend its lead, Bendel Insurance FC substituted Jude Ebhohon for Sarki Ismael to fortify the team at 75 minutes of play.
But hardly had the eruption of celebration of the Benin Arsenals’ supporters died down, at 78 minutes of play, Mohammed Mourabt thoroughly rounded the only defender remaining at the back, scored the equaliser for RS Berkane off a counter solo run.
In response, at 86 minutes of play, Bendel Insurance FC made double substitution of Kelly Oahimijie, Tamara; both midfielders for Stephen Okojie and Austin Ogunye respectively; but there was little they could do to salvage the already bad situation.
Eventually, the game ended 2-2 draw with the visitors very excited about the final outcome, after five minutes added time.
Notably, Kelly Oahimijie; a supposed midfielder was a minus one for the Benin Arsenals, throughout the duration he was on the pitch.
He could not put his height advantage to use in aerial battles against the opponents, no skill as he finds it difficult to hold the ball effectively when he had it, and very weak; no strength tackling for possession and was easily dispossessed.
Hence fans were baffled in outrage, why on earth coach Odigie had to deploy such poor calibre of player in the midfield, and refused to substitute him even though he was not helping the team.
The absence of Divine Nwanchukwu and Deputy Echetta in the midfield were badly felt in the game, that has now put the hope of the Benin Arsenals moving on to the money spinning group stage of the competition, on the cliff hanger.
Many a supporter of the team fear; that they may not be able to scale through the hurdle of the away game coming up on Friday, 29 September, 2023 in Berkane, Morocco.
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