Speaking at the unveiling ceremony on Friday in Benin, the Executive Chairman of the Edo Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele, described Tenebe as “a highly respected individual with a proven track record of success.”
Enabulele charged the new club chairman with the task of elevating Bendel Insurance to continental prominence, expressing confidence in his capacity to transform the club’s fortunes.
“Under his leadership, we expect to see our club reach new heights. With his wealth of experience and passion for football, we believe Bendel Insurance is poised to dominate both the national league and the continental stage,” Enabulele said.
He noted that the unveiling follows a season of remarkable turnaround for the club, which was previously in the relegation zone before the current administration took over. He praised the club’s recent fifth-place finish, attributing the success to strategic restructuring.
“Although fifth place is not our ultimate goal, we aim for Bendel Insurance to consistently qualify to represent Nigeria at continental levels starting from the 2025/2026 season,” he added.
According to Enabulele, Tenebe’s appointment came after careful consideration, particularly given his long standing interest in football and commitment to the club. He emphasized that the restructuring is part of broader reforms to reposition Bendel Insurance as a top-tier sports brand.
“Bendel Insurance has a culture of excellence, respect, teamwork, and value for one another. The capability of our new chairman to promote this brand and sustain that culture is not in doubt,” he said.
Enabulele also acknowledged the dedication of the club’s immediate past chairman and former Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.
“As we usher in this new era, I encourage everyone to support the new chairman so we can all continue to celebrate victories and make our club proud,” he concluded.
In his remarks, Tenebe pledged to transform the club into a financially independent powerhouse, stating plans to take Bendel Insurance to the capital market.
“Football is big business, and we believe state governments should not be directly funding football clubs. With the right strategy, football is more profitable than oil,” Tenebe asserted.
“We plan to list Bendel Insurance on the capital market. We know what needs to be done to fix existing gaps. Our goal is to make this club competitive enough to buy players internationally and run it as a profitable enterprise.”
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