As ripples continue rolling round the recent reduction of three points that left Bendel Insurance FC of Benin City rooted to last position in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), a former member of the club’s coaching crew, Ambrose Vanzekin has blamed it on what he called ‘one man show.’
Vanzekin, who was the Benin City-based team’s goalkeepers’ trainer until September 4th, further alleged that all assistant coaches in the technical crew were left redundant, while only one was listened to and carried along by the club’s management.
Sports247.ng reports that the former youth international shot-stopper gave the expose in a recent interview on radio, during which he also slammed The Benin Arsenal club’s management for signing leftover players late in the transfer window.
Vanzekin exploded, “We don’t normally buy good players at any time. We don’t go to the market like other clubs, and anything that remains is what we will just collect.
“We cannot close our eyes and spend money to get good players from other clubs. Our hands are too tight.”
The member of Nigeria’s silver winning squads at both the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup in Holland and 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China averred further that all fans of the Edo State-owned outfit are currently disillusioned with the club’s dwindling fortune.
“Fans want to see new players, but when they come to the stadium, they will be disappointed.
“While I was working there, no coach was even allowed to chip in a word about whether a player is good enough or not. They run it like a one-man club.
“Let them continue that way and see where it will take them. Anything that comes is how they are doing it. But, see where they are today. This is very painful.
“How can mighty Bendel be in last position? How?” Vanzekin asked rhetorically.
Vanzekin continued by revealing details of why he resigned from his role in the technical crew, which he said came at a point when he realised that his vast knowledge as an ex-international was not being appreciated at the club.
“Just imagine that those of us who know football cannot put our mouths into the team’s issues. That’s why I left!
“What will I be doing there? All the coaches at Bendel Insurance are not allowed to chip in any information for the club. All they want is solo-solo. That’s all!
“They will take only three coaches when they want to travel and leave others back home. How can you succeed with that kind of thing?
“How can one or two coaches save a whole team? Not even three can do it. Who is one coach to move Bendel Insurance along?
“Other coaches cannot contribute, yet they want to succeed. It cannot work! How will he do it?” Vanzekin pondered ominously.
