The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Heartland

  • Heartland: Kaduna Utd tie is do-or-die

    Heartland: Kaduna Utd tie is do-or-die

    Heartland of Owerri have declared their Glo Premier League Week 6 away game today against Kaduna United is a must win to reduce the tension on the team on and off the pitch this season.

    The Naze Millionaires are without a win in the five week old league after playing three home games and two away from home but the Owerri side’s Media Officer, Cajetan Nkwopara told SportingLife that it was very important for Heartland to get something out of today’s game to gain back their supporters and followers who are fast abandoning them.

    “This is a do or die affair for us in the right sense. We don’t want to deploy any negative way to secure a win if it comes our way. We are desirous of a positive result in Kaduna because of all we have gone through. We want to gain the confidence of our supporters who are fast abandoning us.

    “Our players know the importance of a good outing and they have resolved to give the match their best shot,” Nkwopara told SportingLife.

    The club’s spokesman also gave the latest report on their two injured top officials – Fan Ndubuoke and Oscar Keke who were presently at the intensive care unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri over injuries sustained from a fatal road accident. Nkwopara said:” The two officials are responding to treatment.

    “They are still at the intensive care unit but we are hopeful that in the next few days they will be brought to the general ward which depicts a sign of progress. They are responding well to the treatment from the doctors but it is not my jurisdiction to give a time scale on when they will be discharged.”

  • Heartland will have a good season

    Heartland will have a good season

    Heartland’s head coach, Kelechi Emeteole and Team Manager, Promise Nwachukwu have reiterated that the Naze Millionaires would make meaningful impression in the 2013/2014 premier league season despite drawing their opening day fixture with Dolphins at Owerri.

    Just like last season when Heartland failed to win their opening contest at the Dan Anyiam Stadium,Owerri, the club also fell short of the maximum points after they allowed the Port Harcourt dwellers to record a draw.

    In an interview with SportingLife, Emetole, who has had several stints with the club, encouraged his players by telling them that they did very well and that it was a good start for them despite their inability to get the maximum points.

    He told them they could pick points also on the road if they are serious and that it was very important for them to forget about the home draw and strive to work on getting road points in their subsequent matches.

    “You have done well. It was a difficult match and I must admit that I already said I haven’t fully known my players yet. We must wake up from our home draw and ensure we go in search of away points,” Emeteole, popularly dubbed Caterpillar, said.

    Nwachukwu told SportingLife that it was imperative for Heartland to bounce back in style in their next away game and not allow themselves to be weighed down by the home draw.

    “The game has ended and we must ensure we go for away points right from our next game. We have seen many big clubs that have drawn and lost at home but they went ahead to balance the books through their away form,” Nwachukwu said.

  • Heartland abolish sign-on fees

    Heartland abolish sign-on fees

    •Some players to earn N.5m

    Glo Premier League side, Heartland have officially abolished the contractual payment of signing-on fees in the club.

    The Naze Millionaires have instead introduced new salary regime that will see some of the players earn as much as N500,000 monthly salary.

    These are measures agreed by the management with the players to ensure no repeat of the rancours that hindered the side’s performance in the out gone seasons in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season.

    An official of the side, Cajetan Nkwopara said the new salary regime was one of the issues discussed in the several meetings the government held with the management and players.

    “Signing-on fee has been abolished officially in Heartland and replaced with a new salary regime which is acceptable by the players.

    “The issue has been agreed in the meetings the government held with the management and players only that the management decided to unfold it to the players as a policy statement that will rule in the team.

    “The 24 players retained for the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season were shown the new salary regime for their consideration, acceptance or rejection.

    “The new salary regime has brought renewed hope to the side that the upcoming season will be crisis free.

    “The new salary regime though categorised into three is a good bargain and comparable if not higher than what obtains in other clubs,” Nkwopara said to supersport.com.

    Nkwopara allayed fear that the side are threatened by the reported mass exodus of players from the side to other challengers.

    “What we’ve at present is a good deal for any player desirous to stay with us as no amount of bargain can stop a player who has made up his mind to leave.

    “Already Ikechukwu Ibenegbu has officially written to us informing of his desire to leave the club though he didn’t tell us his next port of call.

    “We can’t stop him rather we wished him well to wherever he has decided to go. We’re not worried by the exit of our key players as the quality of players who troop in daily to have a feel of Heartland has rubbished any form of panic we would have entertained.

    “We’ve top players from Ivory Coast, Benin Republic, Togo as well as the domestic players from Sunshine Stars, Gombe United, Lobi Stars, 3SC, among others right here with us,” Nkwopara said.

    Nkwopara said the side will not register more than 30 players for the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season.

    “We took 24 players from the large size of 44 but we discovered that about three of the retained ones have indicated their desire to leave so we’ll be recruiting at least eight more to get to the bench mark of 30 players.

    “As we’re not involved in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup but the league and Federation Cup 30 players will be reasonable to prosecute the assignments,” he said.

    Supersport.com gathered that the management has mapped out plan to commence 40% payment of arrears owed players and gradually offset the entire bill.

    Coach Ramson Madu will continue to take charge of the technical crew until the club hire a technical adviser.

    The two-time Federation Cup winners finished the 2012/13 Glo Premier League season in 11th position on 52 points.

  • Ibenegbu set for Heartland exit

    Ibenegbu set for Heartland exit

    Heartland attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu nicknamed ‘Mosquito’ is a major doubt for the side in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season.

    The playmaker has spent six seasons at the Naze Millionaires and contributed immensely to the side’s back-to-back Federation Cup victories in 2011 and 2012.

    Ibenegbu said though he is yet to achieve a switch to another side, the Owerri-based side are the last place he will like to spend the next football season.

    “I don’t think I’ll be lacing my boots for Heartland in the coming season. I’ve spent six eventful years with the side and will like to try my luck elsewhere. I’ve not sealed any deal with any side though many clubs have been making inquiries about me. I’ve not even decided where else to head to but I’m sure I’ve seen the last of Heartland.

    “I hope to hold discussions with Heartland management on Thursday to let them know what I intend to do. They’ve been wonderful to me in those six years. The management has tried for me greatly. I, too have equally tried for the side. After the Thursday’s discussions I will have a clear direction on where next am heading next ,” said the former El-Kanemi Warriors star to supersport.com.

    The Beach Eagles player has been linked with several clubs in recent time including Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup campaigners, Warri Wolves.

    Ibenegbu worked very hard to ensure Heartland finished as 11th best on 52 points in the 2012/13 Glo Premier League season.

  • Heartland players to get pay first week of January —Imo govt

    Heartland players to get pay first week of January —Imo govt

    A top official of Heartland of Owerri has confided in SportingLife that the Imo State government has assured that the Naze Millionaires’ players and officials would receive their pay in the first week of January next year.

    The Owerri side’s players and officials have been owed backlogs of signing on fees, bonuses and other entitlements that prompted strike actions from the players ahead of crucial fixtures last season.

    SportingLife gathered that the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha sent words down to the players and officials through the club’s Management that their arrears would be settled in the opening week of the New Year.

    The government scheduled several meetings with the players and officials but all failed to produce the desired effect as they were still left frustrated concerning when they would be paid for what they worked for.

    Heartland finished last season’s campaign in the premier league in 11th position with 52 points from 38 matches.

  • Hope as Okorocha, Heartland meet today

    Hope as Okorocha, Heartland meet today

    Glo Premier League side, Heartland will today for the umpteenth time meet with the governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha in Owerri aimed at resolving the lingering indebtedness to the players.

    The players of the two-time Federation Cup winners are owed accumulated signing-on fees for two seasons, match bonuses and other entitlements.

    Okorocha and his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere have met individually at different times with the players on same issue but are yet to break the ice or record any feasible breakthrough.

    Today’s parley at the government house is being seen by many as the last opportunity for the government to reach an agreement to the satisfaction of both parties as well as stem the imminent massive movement of players that stares the side in the face at the moment.

    Supersport.com gathered that most of Heartland’s top players are holding on to know the outcome of the meeting before deciding on their future for the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season.

    “This will be the last meeting with the governor before we head out to our respective ways. The meeting is on Thursday and we’re hopeful it will be different from previous ones to come out with a concrete plan that will see our arrears of entitlements paid.

    “We’re tired of meetings that lead to nowhere, I heard, though not confirmed, that the governor wants to pay only four months of our entire entitlements and thereafter pay salaries instead of signing-on fees.

    “Nothing is offered yet and we believe on Thursday all the contending issues will be resolved. We want to stay back in the team but not on empty stomachs,” said one of the side’s top players in Owerri, who didn’t want his name in print, to supersport.com.

    Heartland had a tumultuous campaign in the 2012/13 season due to players’ threat of boycott leading to the side’s 11th position finish on 52 points.

  • Madu defers training for wedding

    Madu defers training for wedding

    Heartland chief coach, Ramson Madu has said full scale preparations for the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season will wait after his church wedding to spouse, Chioma Ojukwu on December 30.

    The former Iwuanyanwu Nationale star will tie the nuptial bliss with the mother of his four children at the St John’s Anglican Church, Owerri.

    Madu said he has strong faith in the divine dividend that comes with wedding, hoping that it will make him a far improved coach thereafter.

    “My immediate concern right now is my upcoming wedding to my spouse, Chioma Ojukwu on Monday, December 30 at the St John’s Anglican Church, Owerri.

    “Thereafter I’ll now turn undivided attention to preparation for the new season. Right now I can’t meaningfully tell you that Heartland is in the fore front preparing for the new season.

    “Though skeletal training sessions have been going on among the players mostly the new ones but concerted and purposeful training will commence shortly after my wedding.

    “Coach Madu has been blessed off and on the pitch though it may not be too much to expect further blessings after the marriage rite which will make me far better coach than previously.

    “I’m wedding my wife after we’re satisfied with the four children God blessed the union with, so we’re coming before Him to show our appreciation.

    “I look forward to the date with keen interest as I believe it will bring everybody connected with Heartland including the government to commune together,” said Madu to supersport.com.

     

  • Rochas to officials Trim Heartland to 30 players

    Rochas to officials Trim Heartland to 30 players

    • Cancels signing-on fees for enhanced salaries

    • To pay 40% of players’ last season’s debt this week

    Imo governor Rochas Okorocha has told top officials of Heartland of Owerri to trim the squad list of the Naze Millionaires to only 30 players ahead of the next Glo Premier League season.

    The governor also abolished signing-on fees for an enhanced salary structure in a bid to halt the incessant strike actions that paralysed Heartland in the past two seasons.

    The Owerri side started last season well and were at one point on top of the league table before the unrest in the team caused by the government’s inability to pay what it owed the players drew the club back. Heartland only struggled to escape relegation at the end of the season.

    The club has since begun its pre-season programme and will be facing Gabros of Nnewi this morning in a practice match at the Old Stadium, Owerri.

    A top official of the team told SportingLife that many of the players of the club have returned for the pre-season while only a handful are being expected.

    He said the Imo government has promised to pay 40 percent of last season’s signing-on fees to the players and officials as the Naze Millionaires prepare for another season in the top flight.

  • Dobrev eyes Heartland, Enyimba posts

    Dobrev eyes Heartland, Enyimba posts

    Bulgarian coach, Mitko Dobrev is keen on making a return to the Globacom Premier League (Glo League).

    Dobrev previously managed Glo League club, Heartland between 2008 and 2010 but left after negotiations over a new contract broke down.

    He has now exclusively told supersport.com that he is back in Nigeria and will not mind returning to the saddle at the Naze Millionaires.

    “I am at present in Nigeria and I am keen to return to work. The economic situation in my country (Bulgaria) is not very good right now. I will be happy to return to Heartland,” he said.

    The Bulgarian also revealed that he has been monitoring the progress of Enyimba and champions, Kano Pillars, the two clubs that will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League next season.

    “I like Enyimba and Kano Pillars. They play very good football and it will be an honour to manage one of such clubs,” he stressed.

    Meanwhile, the spokesman of Heartland, Cajetan Nkwopara has revealed that the club “never had any problem with Dobrev” during his earlier stint with the club.

    “I can tell you that Heartland never had any problem with Dobrev. The fact that he wants to return is a good development and tells you that he was treated well,” Nkwopara told supersport.com.

    Heartland finished 11th in the 2012/13 Glo League season.

  • Ndubuisi waves off Heartland

    Ndubuisi waves off Heartland

    Suspended Heartland coach, Nduka Ndubuisi has said he is no longer looking in the direction of the Naze Millionaires to restart his career for the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season.

    The former Sharks gaffer was placed on an indefinite suspension by Heartland’s management shortly after their Matchday 20 home defeat to Oriental neighbours, Enyimba at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri and was never recalled as the season ended on October 20.

    Ndubuisi said he has received offers from a few clubs insisted that he is no longer thinking of returning to Heartland, a club he guided to win the 2012 Federation Cup.

    “I’m no more thinking of Heartland even if I’m asked to come back. I believe I’ve given my best to them and time has come for me to move on with my life as well as career. Some clubs have approached me for the purpose of handling their sides for the upcoming season, discussion is still ongoing as nothing concrete has been agreed. I’m weighing up the options available, I’m certain to hook up with a side for the upcoming season but not a return to Heartland.

    “I’m certain there is life outside Heartland and that’s what I want to explore to the fullest not wait on a side endlessly to be seen as never-do-well, so come next season coach Ndubuisi will be on the bench of a team dishing out instructions. I’ve decided to keep the identity of clubs I’m having discussion with under cover until agreement is reached,” said the former Plateau United coach to supersport.com.

    Heartland finished the outgone 2012/13 Glo Premier League season on the 11th spot on 52 points.