They came as Vipers of Benin, lifted the Challenge Cup in 1972 before a name change to Bendel Insurance. Nothing came again in the same competition until one goalkeeper named, Agwo Nnaji, crossed over from Asaba Textile Mills. Another goalie nicknamed ‘Snake’ arrived much later.
No team from the Mid-West area sipped from the Challenge Cup until Vipers’ triumph. Players from the region had won trophies with various clubs in the country. Emmanuel Omiunu, shone with the Police Machine and even captained the Green Eagles as a keeper. Sam Opone and Austine Ofuokwu were part of the all conquering Stationery Stores team of 1967/1968. Sebastine Brodericks-Imasuen became a super star playing for ECN, ‘The Electricians’.
Many could have forgotten that a Benin team played up to the semi finals of the Challenge Cup in 1951. There was more interest in the rampaging forward of Plateau, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, a Lagos boy who left the Lagos Railways shortly after the UK Tourists returned from Britain in 1949. He scored the lone goal that gave the Jos side victory over Benin.
The best came from Warri but their best was not good enough having played in the grand finale of the Challenge Cup five times[1948,1952,1955,1956.1969] and losing in all five attempts. There was another club, Amukpe Eleven, always remembered for their goal tender, one Irish Reverend gentleman called Father Carr.
For winning the Challenge Cup in 1972, sports loving governor, Sam Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, rewarded each Vipers player with a Vespa Scooter. Captained by Victor Oduah, the lucky winners included Imasuen, Sam Ikedi, Tony Ottah, Okoh Otuedor and keeper Eyo Essien.
It was a higher level for Imasuen. As a member of Ikpeazu Redoubtables, Onitsha, the players got bicycles from club proprietor, Justice Chuba Ikpeazu in late 1950s.
In winning the Challenge Cup, the Insurers also created records. The grand finale with Mighty Jets of Jos ended 2-2 at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos. A replay was ordered and the game was taken to the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan. It was the very first time the final had to be played outside Lagos. Insurance won 3-2, thanks to Imasuen’s stunner.
After the first final in Lagos, referee Sunny Badru who had the singular honour of handling two Challenge Cup finals in Ghana was sanctioned. He allowed the match to extend way beyond overtime as Jets hitman, Sam Garba Okoy,e mesmerized everyone with his dribbling runs.
After Challenge Cup victory, Insurance were just lucky to win the National League in 1973 thus earning their first international ticket. They represented Nigeria in the 1974 CAF Champions League. Another record was set when the Benin side hammered Secteur 7, an Army team from Niger Republic 7-0 in the first leg of the first round. Strange enough, they lost 1-0 to the hosts in the Niamey return leg.
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That drubbing remains the highest recorded by any Nigerian team in the competition. Insurance did not go beyond the second round as they lost to Djoliba of Mali. Then decline set in.
In 1977, Alabi Aisien, a highly technical coach trained in Eastern Europe was hired to take Bendel to greater heights. He was popular with pesky Vasco Da Gama of Enugu. A no nonsense man, he had walked out on Ogbemudia during the First National festival in 1973. The governor tried to coach the coach.
When Alabi returned to Benin, he went to Asaba Textile Mills to poach a goalkeeper named Agwo Nnaji. The Igbo word for snake is ‘agwo’ and this Agwo was a virile Igbo man. Also lured out of Asabatex were Francis Monidafe, a hard tackling defender and Rufus Ejele. From Vasco came full back, David Adiele.
The new comers found worthy team mates in Felix Agbonifo, Chris Ogu, George Omokaro, Emmanuel Obasuyi [Shakara],Peter Egharevba, Kadiri Ikhana [Kawawa] and Henry Ogbo [Teketeke].
In the 1978 Challenge Cup, Insurance stopped Shooting Stars, Ibadan in the semi finals. Then came almighty Enugu Rangers, who were reigning Africa Winners Cup champions. The Flying Antelopes had dethroned defending champions, Shooting Stars, on the way to victory the previous year.
Rangers had a formidable team. Christian Chukwu, Emma Okala, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Aloy Atuegbu, Pat Ekeji, ‘Policeman’ Nnamdi Anyafo and storm trooper, Nnamdi Nwokocha, better known as ‘Camel’. It looked like an easy win for Rangers.
That was where Aisien showed class. Rangers were weary. They were involved in the CAF Champions League and Nwokocha ,nursing injury, had to be given injections to be able to play in that game. Alabi planned to attack and possibly score an early goal.
While he planned, one prominent native doctor, stormed the Insurance Camp and warned that if Omokaro was fielded, the Benin Boys would lose the game. Aisien would have none of that and dismissed the herbalist thus; ” Juju no get stamina. E no know National Stadium.” Omokaro was one of his dependable stars.
Insurance wowed the crowd with white balls. White was Rangers traditional colour. The white balls were kicked into the stands and Egharevba ‘s 18th minute kick beat Okala for the first goal. Another came before the second half and just 15 minutes to time, Omokaro performed magic with the ball, found Ogboe who finished it perfectly for the third goal. Rangers lost 3-0.
Another Snake did not appear in Benin until over a decade later. Gbenga Moses, nicknamed Snake, joined Insurance from International Breweries Limited [IBL] Ilesha. The good thing about him was that he could not only stretch like a viper in goal, this snake was also a damn good player.
He kept goal for Iwuanyanwu Nationale in 1990. Unfortunately, he was unable to snake through three other keepers, Edward Ansa, Wahab Haruna and Etta Egbe. That was in 1990. When Ansah left for Ghana 1991, another Ghanaian, Ben Kluvi, joined the Naze millionaires from Insurance and made sure Moses did not enjoy enough playing time.
