Project bring back fans

NPFL 27: First 500 Fans to Get Free Tickets as Three Edo LGs Back ‘Project Bring Fans Back’ ...Enabulele urges residents to turn out in large numbers to support Bendel Insurance against Barau FC As Bendel Insurance Football Club prepares for a crucial Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 7 encounter against Barau FC, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has called on Edo residents, particularly those in Benin City, to come out in large numbers and cheer the Benin Arsenals to victory. Enabulele announced that the first 500 fans to arrive at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Sunday will receive free tickets to watch the highly anticipated fixture. The Matchday 7 encounter is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 p.m. at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. According to Enabulele, the free tickets are being provided through the support of the Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local Governments as part of efforts to revive strong fan support for Bendel Insurance under the club’s “Project Bring Fans Back to the Stadium” campaign. “We want a full-capacity stadium on Sunday as we aim to hand stubborn Barau FC their first defeat of the season. I want to appreciate the kind gesture of our local government chairmen—Hon. Iduseri Gabriel of Oredo LGA, Hon. Osaro Osa Eribo of Egor LGA, and Hon. Eric Sino Osawaru of Ikpoba-Okha LGA—for their support towards football development,” Enabulele said. He commended the three urban-area local government chairmen for their commitment and urged other council chairmen and well-meaning Edo residents to support Bendel Insurance and complement the state government’s efforts to develop football in the state. Bendel Insurance will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Barau FC in what promises to be a keenly contested Matchday 7 fixture. The Benin Arsenals face a formidable Barau side that has remained unbeaten in the current campaign. Bendel Insurance currently occupy eighth position with nine points from six matches, while Barau FC sit third with 12 points. The two sides also met twice during the 2025/26 season. Their encounter in Benin ended in a goalless draw, while the first-round meeting in Kano finished in a 1–1 situation. With Barau FC yet to taste defeat this season, Sunday’s encounter is expected to provide another stern test for Bendel Insurance, who will be counting on strong home support to push them towards victory. The club and its supporters will be hoping that the free-ticket initiative helps create the intimidating atmosphere needed to inspire the Benin Arsenals at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.