Uche Collins

Striker - Bendel Insurance
21 Nov 2027
Sunday
Process
60 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

20 Sep 2027
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Onyia Henry asks to leave Bendel Insurance

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Market

Kelvin Akinmola is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Bendel Insurance is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Squad

Chinedu Nwosu gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Match

Bendel Insurance see off Shooting Stars

Three points for Bendel Insurance, 1-0 the final word against Shooting Stars in a contest settled by the finer margins.

Squad

No place for Uche Collins on the big day

He found out with everybody else, an hour before kick-off, from a sheet of paper on a wall. Nobody at Bendel Insurance pretended it was anything other than a decision about him.

Squad

Julius Emiloju Junior knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Bendel Insurance, and both men came out saying it was fine.

In brief

Back issues
57 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

30 Aug 2027
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Match

12 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 12, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Market

Bamidele Adeniyi asks to leave Bendel Insurance

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Squad

Miswar Saputra stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” Miswar Saputra and Bendel Insurance agree another 2 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Chisom Chikatara

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Loan watch

10 goals on loan for Uche Collins

34 appearances at Katsina United and the goals keep coming. Bendel Insurance are watching this more closely than the borrowing club would like.

Squad

Onyia Henry knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Bendel Insurance, and both men came out saying it was fine.

Market

Experience through the door at Bendel Insurance

Bolu Sholumade arrives at 33 with nothing left to prove and plenty left to pass on. Legs are a young man's currency; knowing where to stand never ages.

Match

Bendel Insurance draw a blank against Wikki Tourists

The crowd waited for a goal that never came. Wikki Tourists defended in numbers and left with what they came for, and the two sides could be playing still without troubling a scorer.

Squad

Somebody is after Julius Emiloju Junior’s shirt

A new face in his position, and Julius Emiloju Junior suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. Bendel Insurance have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.

In brief

56 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

23 Aug 2027
From our football correspondent Crisis

Match

11 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 11, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Market

Onyia Henry asks to leave Bendel Insurance

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Squad

Israel Emmanuel says Bendel Insurance went back on their word

“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.

Market

Kelvin Akinmola is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Bendel Insurance is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Match

A bad afternoon for Bendel Insurance against Niger Tornadoes

1-2 to Niger Tornadoes, and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.

Squad

Onyia Henry gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Loan watch

Uche Collins keeps scoring at Katsina United

33 appearances away from home and 9 goals to show for them. Every one of them makes next summer's conversation a little more expensive.

Squad

Emmanuel Ofori knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Bendel Insurance, and both men came out saying it was fine.

Market

Victor Ikechukwu leaves Bendel Insurance for nothing

No fee, no negotiation, no argument: Victor Ikechukwu moves on to another club with his contract settled and the wage bill a little lighter.

In brief

55 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

16 Aug 2027
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Match

10 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 10, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Market

Promise Anyanwu is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Bendel Insurance is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Market

Abia Warriors are about to pick up the phone

A conversation is coming this week. Bendel Insurance will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.

Match

Bendel Insurance and Nasarawa United take a point apiece

It finished 1-1, and it somehow always looked like it would. One of those afternoons where the table moves less than the tempers.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Wisdom Udom

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Squad

Elmer Arunta knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Bendel Insurance, and both men came out saying it was fine.

Market

Bendel Insurance and Onochie Chukwu are talking past each other

“There is a gap, and pretending there is not helps nobody.” Neither side has moved, and the calendar is working for exactly one of them.

Market

Emmanuel Ugwu leaves Bendel Insurance for nothing

No fee, no negotiation, no argument: Emmanuel Ugwu moves on to another club with his contract settled and the wage bill a little lighter.

Squad

Oke Kayode named in the team of the week

A rating of 7.11 was enough for the selectors, and nobody who watched the match is going to argue with them.

In brief

53 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

2 Aug 2027
From our football correspondent Crisis

Match

8 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 8, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Market

Bamidele Adeniyi asks to leave Bendel Insurance

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Match

Rivers United take the points off Bendel Insurance

Beaten 1-2, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.

Market

Efe Obiomo attracts admirers

The name of Efe Obiomo has come up in conversations Bendel Insurance were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Efa Enabulele

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Squad

Emmanuel Ofori left out for the big one

A player who expected to start watched it instead. The manager will call it a decision for the team; Emmanuel Ofori will call it something else in private.

Market

Bayelsa United are about to pick up the phone

A conversation is coming this week. Bendel Insurance will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.

Squad

Julius Emiloju Junior asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

Loan watch

Uche Collins keeps scoring at Katsina United

31 appearances away from home and 8 goals to show for them. Every one of them makes next summer's conversation a little more expensive.

In brief

51 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

19 Jul 2027
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Onyia Henry hands in a written request

“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Bendel Insurance can pretend not to have heard.

Match

6 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 6, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Squad

Alex Oweilayefa: that is not what I was promised

“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Bendel Insurance have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.

Market

Promise Anyanwu is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Bendel Insurance is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Market

Nasarawa United expected to open talks for Victor Torisheju

Both sides expect a conversation in the coming days. Bendel Insurance will name a price, and everything after that is arithmetic.

Squad

Austin Osayande gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

In brief

49 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

5 Jul 2027
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Bamidele Adeniyi asks to leave Bendel Insurance

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Match

4 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 4, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Market

Warri Wolves are about to pick up the phone

A conversation is coming this week. Bendel Insurance will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Stephen Chukwude

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Squad

Onyia Henry knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Bendel Insurance, and both men came out saying it was fine.

Loan watch

Uche Collins keeps scoring at Katsina United

27 appearances away from home and 8 goals to show for them. Every one of them makes next summer's conversation a little more expensive.

In brief

48 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

28 Jun 2027
From our football correspondent Crisis

Market

Israel Emmanuel asks to leave Bendel Insurance

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Match

Rangers International take the points off Bendel Insurance

Beaten 1-2, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Julius Emiloju Junior

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Squad

Anthony Cletus lets one through his hands

A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.

Market

Plateau United are about to pick up the phone

A conversation is coming this week. Bendel Insurance will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.

Squad

Elmer Arunta asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

In brief

44 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

31 May 2027
From our football correspondent Crisis

Squad

Ifeanyi Ezema: that is not what I was promised

“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Bendel Insurance have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.

Market

Victor Torisheju is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Bendel Insurance is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Squad

Chisom Chikatara gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

In brief

42 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

17 May 2027
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Match

11 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 11, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Squad

Denis Chigozie says Bendel Insurance went back on their word

“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.

Match

Still nobody has beaten Bendel Insurance

The unbeaten run reaches 8. Some of them were wins and some were escapes, but a side that refuses to lose is a side other dressing rooms talk about.

Market

Efe Obiomo is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Bendel Insurance is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Squad

Stephen Chukwude gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Squad

Onyia Henry asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

In brief

38 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

19 Apr 2027
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Match

6 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 6, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Market

Efe Obiomo has one foot out of the door

Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Bendel Insurance they have already started talking about him in the past tense.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Chisom Chikatara

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Match

Honours even between Bendel Insurance and Wikki Tourists

1-1, and both dressing rooms will call it two points lost. A draw that asked plenty of questions and answered none of them.

Squad

Chidi Akuneto asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

Squad

Elmer Arunta finally opens his account

He wheeled away like a man who had been carrying it for months, because he had. Bendel Insurance have their signing off the mark and one press-conference question retired.

In brief

37 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

12 Apr 2027
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Match

5 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 5, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Squad

Kelvin Akinmola gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Match

No goals between Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes

Ninety minutes, two goalkeepers with clean gloves, and not one finish worth keeping. Niger Tornadoes will be the happier side with the point.

In brief

36 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

5 Apr 2027
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Bamidele Adeniyi asks to leave Bendel Insurance

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Match

4 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 4, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Onyia Henry

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

Market

FC Lahti are about to pick up the phone

A conversation is coming this week. Bendel Insurance will put a number on him, and from there it stops being football and becomes arithmetic.

Squad

The armband comes off Chisom Chikatara

Bendel Insurance will explain it as a decision about the team, and it may well be one. A dressing room has never once read it that way.

Squad

Emmanuel Ofori asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

In brief

22 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

28 Dec 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Stanley Okorom out for 15 days

The medical room confirms 15 days on the sidelines for Stanley Okorom, and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.

Boardroom

Wages eat 120% of everything Bendel Insurance earn

There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Wisdom Udom

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

In brief

18 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

30 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Onyia Henry hands in a written request

“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Bendel Insurance can pretend not to have heard.

Boardroom

Wages eat 140% of everything Bendel Insurance earn

There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.

Squad

Chidi Akuneto gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

In brief

14 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

2 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Oke Kayode: that is not what I was promised

“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Bendel Insurance have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.

Squad

Emmanuel Ofori signs a new deal

“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Emmanuel Ofori commits to Bendel Insurance for another 4 years.

Boardroom

Wages eat 140% of everything Bendel Insurance earn

There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.

In brief

10 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

5 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Stanley Okorom out for 55 days

The medical room confirms 55 days on the sidelines for Stanley Okorom, and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.

Boardroom

241% of the income goes out in wages at Bendel Insurance

Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.

Squad

The manager makes an example of Stephen Chukwude

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

In brief

6 Edition

The Bendel Insurance Post

7 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Crisis

Market

Promise Anyanwu asks to leave Bendel Insurance

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Market

Bendel Insurance turn down Remo Stars for Odia Uyiosa

The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.

Match

4 matches without a win for Bendel Insurance

The run now stands at 4, and the questions being asked around Bendel Insurance are no longer polite ones.

Match

A bad afternoon for Bendel Insurance against Plateau United

0-2 to Plateau United, and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.

Market

Efe Obiomo attracts admirers

The name of Efe Obiomo has come up in conversations Bendel Insurance were not part of. Nothing formal, nothing signed — but nothing about it accidental either.

Squad

Osas Okoro gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

Squad

Odia Uyiosa stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” Odia Uyiosa and Bendel Insurance agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

Boardroom

Wages eat 96% of everything Bendel Insurance earn

There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.

Squad

Bamidele Adeniyi lets one through his hands

A defender's mistake gets tidied up by somebody else; a goalkeeper's ends up in the net. He knew before the ball crossed the line, and so did everybody in the ground.

In brief