President of Ex-Iwuanyanwu Nationale Players Worldwide, Isaac Mbika, said he remained inconsolable since following the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
He said the Elder Statesman was a goal getter and that what he did with Iwuanyanwu Nationale has been etched in the sands of time for generations unborn.
Mbika, a former player of Iwuanyanwu Nationale, said the late philanthropist
took all players that passed through the club as his own and did all he could to make the club the envy of all.
“It was a shocking news because we still expected him to remain with us for years to come. He still leaves among us because his club, Iwuanyanwu Nationale still exists through Heartland FC,” Mbika said. “I spoke with him about two months ago and he spoke highly of the football tournament for Secondary schools in Imo State.
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“He made people. We had foreign players from other countries who played for Iwuanyanwu Nationale. Every player wanted to play for Iwuanyanwu Nationale because they know the incentives that will follow it and footballers saw it as a thing of pride to have Iwuanyanwu Nationale among the clubs they have played for.
“ I can’t have enough words to describe him,” he noted.
Chief Iwuanyanwu who took over the former Spartans Football Club of Owerri (1981 WAFU Cup losing finalists) and renamed it Iwuanyanwu Nationale in 1984,died at the age of 82 on Thursday, 25th July 2024.
However, the club has since 2006 reverted to the Imo State Government and renamed Heartland FC.