Insurance Rated Best In NPFL 1st Stanza, 64 Wins, 180 Goals Recorded

Insurance Rated Best In NPFL 1st Stanza, 64 Wins, 180 Goals Recorded 

Alfred Kadiri

Bendel Insurance FC of Benin is rated as the best performer of the 1st stanza of the abridged season of the Nigeria Premier Football League after going unbeaten in Group A after nine (9) matches, with the highest number of goals scored, 

wins away from home and topping the table with 23 points, reports BSNSports.com.ng.

In a technical report sourced by BSNSports, there was also a combined total of 64 wins from 89 matches with Group A producing 33 wins including nine (9) 

wins by visiting teams and 31 wins in Group B including five (5) won by visiting teams, with a total of 180 goals scored.

The report was itemized into the following by the Interim Management Company (IMC).

MATCHES PLAYED

Groups A and B had a combined total of 89 matches with 45 matches in Group A and 44 matches in Group B where outstanding one match has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 15 (Rivers United FC Vs Rangers Int’l 

FC). The rescheduling is a result of Rivers United FC's involvement in the CAF Confederation Cup competition. 

MATCH RESULTS ANALYSIS

There has been a combined total of 64 wins from 89 matches with Group A producing 33 wins including nine (9) wins by visiting teams and 31 wins including five (5) won by visiting teams in Group B. It is imperative to state that both groups have recorded a total of 25 drawn games with Group A 12 drawn games and Group B 13 drawn games respectively.

GOALS 

Both Groups produced 180 goals from 89 matches with Group A teams scoring 96 goals from 45 matches and Group B has 84 goals from 44 games. It adds up to a combined average of 2+ goals per match.

TOP SCORERS

With seven (7) goals in Group A, Emeka Obioma Godson of Enyimba leads the goal scorers’ chart while in 

Group B, Robert Mizode Christian of Bayelsa United leads with six (6) goals to his credit.

TEAMS PERFORMANCE

Bendel Insurance FC of Benin are unbeaten in Group A after nine (9) matches, with the highest number of goals,wins away from home and topping the table. In Group B, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi is leading after nine (9) games but Rivers United FC has one (1) game in hand and is placed second on the table.

OFFICIATING AND PLACEMENT OF MATCH OFFICIALS

There has been a marked improvement in the quality of officiating with pockets of observed mediocre performance by some officials and incidents of assault on them by unruly individuals. Prompt interventions by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Referees Appointment Committee and the Interim Management Committee (IMC) have ensured that such incidents were appropriately dealt with. Another marked departure from the recent past is the payment of the official indemnities of Match Officials before Matchday.

Towards sustaining a high standard of officiating, the Referees Committee summarily decided on reported cases of poor officiating, ordering the indefinite suspension of four (4) Referees and three (3) issued warnings and placed on assessment in subsequent games. Also, four (4) referees are facing the Disciplinary Panel and have been delisted for future appointments pending the outcome of the panel's decision. However, the sequel to complaints and protests from participating teams, the IMC have referred the under-listed match officials to the Referee's Appointment 

Committee for a review of their performance:

Sanusi Umar Idris (Kano State Referees Council) Gombe United FC Vs Nasarawa United FC (Match Day 4 Fixture), Amadi Promise (Rivers State Referees Council) Lobi Stars FC Vs Sunshine Stars FC (Match Day 5 Fixture), and Taiwo David (Oyo State Referees Council) Rivers United FC Vs Wikki Tourists FC (Match Day 5 Fixture).

MEDIA

The IMC has continued to enjoy positive media reviews on all genres including online publications, and social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook and YouTube). The recently opened Twitter handle, @NigeriaPFL has grown to 263 followers over the last two weeks and needs to be promoted to grow faster. This requires paying for Twitter ads to 

promote the young NPFL handle.

This small growth has been a result of the hiring by the IMC of a Social Media Manager and a Graphics expert for the illumination of match statistics, live updates and players/club news through the Twitter handle.

To optimize all other social media platforms, there is a need to engage field workers on each Matchday as Match Delegates to provide content to populate our Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter pages. The added value of the Match Delegates scheme is that they automatically become advocates of NPFL and the IMC against hostile media. An NPFL website will also be the biggest asset to opening the League to the global football audience.

LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE

Several breaches of the Rules were handled and sanctions were meted out appropriately. There were also complaints lodged by some clubs against others which were either ruled on or are still subject to investigations. Some have been enumerated below:

Matchday 2

Lobi Stars FC Vs Rangers Int’l FC: A complaint by Rangers Int’l FC alleging the fielding of an ineligible player by Lobi Stars FC, is awaiting a final decision on the findings by the legal sub-committee of the IMC.

Matchday 4

Gombe United FC Vs Nasarawa United FC: Gombe United FC were fined for a security breach by throwing objects unto the field of play.

Matchday 5

Bayelsa United FC Vs Doma United FC: For the proven assault on Match Officials in their match against Doma United FC, Bayelsa United FC was fined and deducted three points and three goals.

El-Kanemi Warriors FC Vs Bendel Insurance FC: El-kanemi Warriors FC were fined for failure to provide adequate security.

Matchday 6

Niger Tornadoes FC Vs Lobi Stars FC: Niger Tornadoes FC were fined for verbal assault on match officials.

Matchday 9

Shooting Stars Sports Club Vs Akwa United FC: Fine for misconduct (vide urinating on the playing pitch by a club official who was also suspended for one year from all NPFL activities).

APPEAL/PROTEST

The appeal by Bayelsa United FC against the sanctions issued against them for incidents on Match Day 5 has been referred to the NFF Disciplinary Committee.

Summary of Statistics as of Match Day 9 games in the ongoing

Group A 2022/2023 NPFL Season:

- Matches Played: 45 matches with 33 wins (24 home wins and 24 away losses)

- Played 45 matches with 9 away wins

- Played 45 matches with 12 draws

- Goal Scored: 96 goals scored having played 45 matches

- An average of 2 goals per match

- 63 home goals scored

- 33 away goals scored

- 2 goals scored by penalty kicks

- 1 Penalty loss as at Match Day 9 games

- 3 penalty kicks awarded as of Match Day 9 games

- 3 own goals recorded having played 45 matches.

- Highest goal scorer as at Match Day 9 Games: Obioma Chukwuemeka Godson of Enyimba Int’l 

FC with 7 goals.

- Caution & Expulsion: 183 yellow cards and 6 red cards recorded.

LOG TABLE ANALYSIS:

- First on the Log Table: Bendel Insurance FC top the table as at Match Day 9 games with 23

points, 13 goals scored and 3 goals against, having +10 as superior goals difference.

- Best attacking team: Bendel Insurance FC with 13 goals. 

- Team with a porous defence: El-Kanemi Warriors FC has conceded 15 goals.

- Highest Match Day’s League Leaders: Bendel Insurance FC for 7 Match Days {Match Day 2, 4-9 consecutively)

Group B Summary of Statistics as of Match Day 9 games in the ongoing 2022/2023 NPFL Season:

- Matches Played: 44 matches with 31 wins (26 home wins and 26 away losses)

- Played 44 matches with 5 away wins

- Played 44 matches with 13 draws

- Goal Scored: 84 goals scored having played 44 matches

- An average of 2 goals per match

- 54 home goals scored

- 30 away goals scored

5 goals were scored by penalty kicks

- 1 Penalty loss as at Match Day 9 games

- 6 penalty kicks awarded as of Match Day 9 games

- 2 own goals recorded having played 44 matches

- Highest goal scorer as of Match Day 9 Games: Robert Mizode Christian of Bayelsa United FC 

with 6 goals.

- Caution & Expulsion: 150 yellow cards and 9 red cards recorded.

LOG TABLE ANALYSIS:

- First on the Log Table: Lobi Stars FC top the log table as of Match Day 9 games with 19 points, 12

goals scored and 5 goals against, having +7 as superior goals difference.

- Best attacking team: is Lobi Stars FC with 12 goals. 

- Teams with a porous defence: Dakkada FC and Bayelsa United FC conceded 14 goals against each respectively.

- Highest Match Day’s League Leaders: Lobi Stars FC for 4 Match Days {Match Day 6-9 ‘consecutively}.