… amid controversial penalty kick
Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin on Saturday lost again at home to visiting Kano Pillars Football Club in the MarchDay 11 encounter in Benin City via a penalty kick awarded at the 98th minutes of play.
The center referee, Adeniyi Adewale from Oyo State pointed to the penalty spot after a Bendel Insurance defender cleared the ball which was heading for the Insurance net.
The referee pointed to the penalty spot in conviction that the ball touched the hand of the defender while attempting to save his net and the controversial penalty given to the visitors led to several protest by fans, players and officials of Bendel Insurance Football Club resulting to a delay in taking the kick.
Number 10 Jessy for Kano Pillars and captain of the side, legendary Rabiu Ali converted the spot kick in the 98th minutes of the game resulting to the second home loss for the Benin Arsenal as Kano Pillars secured the three points.
The game was tension soaked as both teams played their best deploying several tactical play to be ahead, but not until the 98th minutes of play before the deadlock was broken via penalty kick as Kano Pillars converted the kick and ended up with a 1-0 victory over Insurance.
Fans of the Insurance Club who protested, questioned the rational behind the penalty kick awarded by Adewale as he was accused of assisting the visitors with the away win. Some fans said Adewale should be ban from officiating football as he has robbed Bendel Insurance at home by awarding a controversial penalty to Kano Pillars, and his action has killed the beautiful game played by both Clubs.
The former Nigeria international Amed Musa was locked out of the 90 minutes game by Bendel Insurance defenders ensuring that he was not given free room to operate or deploy his experience to make the needed difference.
Insurance attackers made all efforts to score in the first and second half, as they majorly controlled the game, made dangerous attempts at kano Pillars goal but no goal for their efforts.
Monday Odigie, coach of Bendel Insurance Football Club made several changes to strengthen his attack and sustain the pressure on the visitors but Kano Pillars stood firm defending their goal hoping for an away draw but finally got a win.
Fans complained of bad officiating from the center referee who was alleged to have been biased in his officiating throughout the game protecting Kano Pillars, making questionable calls, destroying the game of football through the controversial penalty.
None of Bendel Insurance players, officials and the team coach were in the mood for post match interview as they complained bitterly of being robbed by the center referee through his bad officiating leading to the second lost for the team on home soil.
Security personnel were deployed to ensure the safety of Kano Pillars team as they were protected out of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium amist protest by fans, officials who called on the appropriate authority in charge of football to look at the game again as the penalty is not worth to be awarded.
