The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Heartland

  • Heartland keeper is star of The Predictor’s XI

    Heartland keeper is star of The Predictor’s XI

    Heartland goalkeeper, Chinedu Udeh, is the star of my Matchday 12 team in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    This 21-year-old custodian has put in massive shift for the Cup holders in recent games in the absent of first-choice Daniel Akpeyi and it was no surprise when he stood up to 3SC on Wednesday.

    In September 2010, Udeh was one of six trialists from neighbouring non-league side, Inter Enugu, who undergone test with the Heartland squad.

    Udeh’s performance had caught the attention of then Heartland head coach, Samson Siasia, who moved for him after the modest side defeated the NPFL club 3-2 in a friendly match.

    The ex-Inter Enugu goalkeeper had a one-man show against 3SC with his heroic saves, which helped Heartland keep a two-goal lead till the end of the tie to secure a first away win in more than four years.

    The quartet of Festus Umanah, Moses Awala, Manga Mohammed and Bobby Waziri make up the backline in a 4-4-2 formation.

    In midfield, Ichull Lordson, Chigozie Christopher, Onoriode Odah and Kalu Orji were my best performers in the middle on the day.

    In fact Orji looked more comfortable going forward from his left-back position which is why I moved him in front of Wikki left-back Waziri.

    On a matchday the big names went missing, the front two of Peter Ebimobowei and Ebere Odiche turned out the best strikers for me.

    Ebimobowei was a handful for Nasarawa United while Odiche’s precision and guile in front of goal against 3SC stood him out.

    For the man who sits in the dugout of my team on this matchday, it had to be no other than Heartland manager, Ndubuisi Nduka. He masterminded Heartland’s first league win on the road in more than four years and at a difficult ground in Ibadan.

  • Heartland shock 3SC in Ibadan

    Cash-strapped Heartland of Owerri produced the result of the Week 12 duels of the Nigeria Professional Football League after the Naze Millionaires shocked 3SC 2-0 at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan Wednesday.

    Two goals from Jolly Osas and Ebere Odiche in the 3rd and 68th minutes confined the Oluyole Warriors to their first home loss one which came barely three days after the club secured their first away point of the season in Port Harcourt against Sharks.

    Heartland’s Team Manager, Promise Nwachukwu in a chat with SportingLife praised the display of sportsmanship showed by the 3SC supporters before, during and after the game and he urged fans and supporters of other clubs to emulate the gesture showed in Ibadan where the home fans did not display any act inimical to the growth of sports development in the country.

    He said Heartland would go back to the drawing board and would not be carried away by the away win since they now know that they would be the cynosure of all eyes according to their latest feat.

    Heartland jumped to second on the log with 19 points by virtue of their away win from 12 games while 3SC are still on 16 points from the same number of matches.

    In Katsina Ala, Warri Wolves went down 0-1 to Lobi Stars through the goal of John Kollins in the 27th minute but the away team’s media officer, Moses Etu said after the match that the officials that handled their game especially the centre referee Henry Ogunyimode from Ondo State was a kill joy and that people like him should be flushed out from officiating games in the elite division because their calls could bring the game into disrepute.

    He charged the League Management Company to send match secret assessors to match venues so as to ascertain the integrity of the games played.

    “It was a total display of shame from centre referee Henry Ogunyimode from Ondo State. If people like him are allowed to continue to refer matches in the league it will in no time breed corruption. He did all what he could to frustrate our game plan but we shall come back in our subsequent games,” Etu said.

    At the Pantami Stadium, Gombe the home team, kept their 100 percent winning record intact after a second half goal from Bishop Onyeudo separated Gombe United from struggling Kwara United. It was Onyeudo legitimate 7th goal of the season and he has levelled with Beach Eagles star, Akor Isah Umoru who netted his 7th goal of the current campaign for Heartland last Sunday against Akwa United.

    Akwa United nicked a precious 1-0 win over Enugu Rangers at the Uyo Township Stadium while ABS and Sharks played out a goalless draw in their tango in Ilorin.

    Both clubs have drawn their last two games after the Blue Angels and the Saraki Boys had last Sunday fired blank against 3SC and Sunshine Stars respectively.

    At the El-kanemi Stadium, Maiduguri, El Kanemi defied the state of emergency declared on the State by the President of the country, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to beat the Sunshine Stars 1-0 to steer a little clear of relegation zone.

  • Heartland: We saw hell in Kano

    Heartland of Owerri media officer, Cajetan Nkwopara has denied reports that the Naze Millionaires abandoned their Nigeria Professional Football League encounter against Kano Pillars on Wednesday.

    The epic clash was abandoned after police shot a fan at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano. The game was just minutes from the hour mark when it was called off owing to the shooting incident.

    Trouble started when the policemen challenged a fraction of the Kano Pillars supporters who came into the stadium brandishing all sorts of dangerous weapons aside heavy smoking of local weeds suspected to be marijuana.

    The security men’s challenge was viewed as an insult as the hoodlums attacked the security men and, according to an eyewitness account, the security men shot into the crowd in self-defence injuring about three persons.

    Further provoked by the security men’s shooting, the invaders poured onto the pitch, tore the nets of the goalpost and destroyed any object within reach as players of both sides and officials scampered away for safety.

    The match was held up for more than 45 minutes as efforts made towards restarting the game was frustrated by the invading supporters refusing all entreaties, even from a section of their own fans to allow the game start again.

    As the atmosphere got tensed up, the security men came onto the pitch to escort the teams out of the stadium including the match officials.

    Narrating the incident, Nkwopara said: “It’s not what really happened that was reported. Three people were shot yesterday and the policeman who fired the shot was killed on the pitch, many others were injured. The pitch was damaged, the goal post was damaged by the fans who invaded the pitch. How come people are reporting that Heartland abandoned the match?

    “The game was going on and when there was no goal, their fans started invading the pitch with their daggers and knives. The policemen within the stadium then responded by trying to manage the situation and that was when the shooting incident happened.

    “So, out of anger, the home supporters invaded the pitch in large numbers, carrying the guy that was injured about. They even wanted to bring him to VIP for people to see, for more than one hour thirty minutes, the game was held back.

    “Then the officials went and brought new rolls of net and started fixing it and asked us to come and play. When the referee went to inspect the new net so that the game could continue, another problem started. That was when the fans located the policeman who fired the shot. The man had already changed into mufti, but they recognised him because they said they come from the same Kofarmata area. They were even threatening to go and burn his family house. So the man wanted to plead with the fans but he was stabbed right there with the knife still sticking to his body, even when he fell down. The fans also prevented the medical team from attending to the officer. I did not know if he died or not because we were running for our lives. The policemen used force to take us out of the stadium with the referees and officials, even the Kano Pillars players, nobody was safe.

    “So, how come they are talking of we abandoning the game? Who can play in such situation? Even the home players ran for their lives,” he said.

  • Heartland protest US Bitam walk-over

    Heartland protest US Bitam walk-over

    Except the Confederation of African Football (CAF) rules in favour of Heartland, both Nigeria’s representatives in the second tier CAF Confederation Cup might have to bid the competition goodbye this year.

    News emerged from Gabon Saturday night that US Bitam had already rounded off walk-over formalities before Heartland arrived for the second leg of their first round clash scheduled for same day.

    The Naze Millionaires had issues with their travel arrangements and only left Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja Saturday evening with only 13 players and some officials to meet up with the slated game, but the Gabonese side, SportingLife, gathered exploited Heartland’s plight to compel the match officials to walk-over the Nigerians after they failed to arrive on time.

    Speaking with SportingLife from Gabon Saturday night, the General Manager of the troubled Owerri side, Fan Ndubuoke said they did arrive in Bitam but that he heard that the home team had walked over his team despite intimating them of their problem with connecting a flight to Libreville.

    “We are in Gabon but we were told that US Bitam had walked us over. We explained the reason for our lateness and these are issues beyond us. We tried as much as possible to keep to the scheduled kick-off but we encountered difficulties that necessitated a change of plans, and we expected them to reason along with us,” Ndubuoke explained to SportingLife Saturday night.

    Ndubuoke enthused that they would take their case to CAF and other relevant bodies to get justice, stating that they were surprised at the case of Bitam when the rules are clear on issues such as theirs which relate to force majeure.

     

  • Heartland risk fine

    Heartland FC were still stranded in Lagos after their planned trip to Libreville, Gabon failed on Thursday, and the team could be punished by the Confederation of African Football if they fail to make the trip.

    The team have a date with Union Sportif Bitam in the second leg of the CAF Confederation cup, and were due to travel on Thursday.

    But 24 hours after, the Naze Millionaires were still in Lagos with little hope of making the trip. Media officer of Heartland Cajetan Nkwopkara said the team would travel on Friday afternoon.

    “We will head to the (Askia) airline office this morning (Friday) and we hope to travel this afternoon or latest tonight,” he told futaa.com

    The Naze Millionaires were at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos Thursday morning for the trip but were disappointed as there were not enough seats to accommodate members of the contingent.

    The Gabonese registered airline, Askia issued only 10 tickets to 10 players which would have made the team to travel in batches, but after it was discovered that there would be no accompanying official to lead the players on the trip, the team was deboarded.

    Heartland FC now hope to get their 31-man contingent into Gabon through the same airline after the club and Askia officials in Lagos got in touch with the airline’s headquarters in Libreville.

  • Heartland to attack in Gabon

    Heartland to attack in Gabon

    Heartland forward, Abdul Haruna has said his side will not defend the slim first leg victory at Union Sportive Bitam (USB) in Saturday’s first round reverse fixture of the Caf Confederation Cup in Bitam, Gabon.

    The Naze Millionaires squeezed out a 2-1 win against the Gabonese side on March 17 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri and must avoid defeat in the make-or-mar duel at the Stade Gaston Peyrille, Bitam to progress in Africa’s second tier club competition.

    Haruna said Union Sportive Bitam were ordinary in the first fixture and will suffer defeat at their back yard.

    “We won’t defend our 2-1 win in the first leg but go all out right from the blast of the whistle to attack and I’m confident we’ll net the vital goals that will see us in the next stage of the competition.

    “I know we’ll win because the goal they scored against us was merely luck. They weren’t fantastic but simply ordinary.

    “We’re in high spirit thinking nothing but the battle at Union Sportive Bitam. Our confidence level is further boosted by recent league victories.

    “The coaches have carefully selected the best legs for the encounter and they’re raring to go. We’ll surely come back with the qualification ticket at the expense of US Bitam,” said the former Kano Pillars’ hit-man to supersport.com.

    Strikers, Jolly Osas and Isah Akor scored for Heartland in the first fixture at Owerri while danger man, Alain Djessikadie got his side’s consolation goal.

    Heartland arrived Lagos on Wednesday from their base, Owerri and will depart to Bitam, Gabon on Thursday.

  • Heartland depart for Gabon today

    Heartland depart for Gabon today

    A 33-man Heartland FC delegation will leave for Gabon today for the second leg match of their first round CAF Confederation Cup tie against US Bitam.

    The players and officials of the club left Owerri on Wednesday morning by road to Lagos where they passed a night before jetting out from Murtala Mohammed International Airport to Gabon through Askar Airlines.

    The Naze Millionaires are confident of defending their 2-1 victory recorded in the first leg at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri and have called on Nigerians to back them up with prayers as they go for the encounter.

    Heartland drew bye in the preliminary round and will face stiff opposition in their quest to qualify for the second round from the hosts. The game would be played on Saturday in Bitam.

  • Teething problem over in Heartland

    Teething problem over in Heartland

    Heartland coach, Nduka Ndubuisi has said his side have overcome the initial slow start to the 2012/13 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    The Cup holders secured an emphatic 4-1 win against visiting Kaduna United in a NPFL Matchday 3 game at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Sunday. The massive victory takes the Naze Millionaires’ total points to four from a maximum of nine points.

    Emeka Ogbugh gave the home side an opener in the 36th minute ending the first stanza on lone goal margin. However at resumption of play, it was the visitors that levelled score at 1-1 through Peter Onoja in the 64th minute while substitute and 2012 Federation Cup highest goal scorer, Akor Isah shot his side up in the 66th minute.

    Attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu scored the third goal through a well taken free-kick in the 75th minute and assisted in the fourth goal that was finished up by Isah in the added time of the thrilling encounter.

    Ndubuisi said his side will record more stunning results as the league progresses having plugged the loopholes that saw them falter at the start of the season.

    “We started badly but we’ve been able to regroup and this result is evidence of the work we’ve put into the team in the last weeks. I assure you we’ll continue to improve as the league progresses. Evidently, we’ve overcome the teething problem, henceforth it’s forward ever backward never.

    “We played a very disciplined side, tactically and technically sound. They gave a good account of themselves, I thank God we survived their scar with the massive victory,” said the former Plateau United coach to supersport.com.

    Heartland will be the guest of Kwara United in mid-week’s Matchday 4 at the Kwara State Stadium, llorin.

     

  • Heartland peg back Wolves

    Heartland ran away with a vital point from Warri Wolves on the back of a 1-1 draw on Thursday.

    The Confederation Cup campaigners, who lost their opening day game at home to newly promoted Nembe City, threw all at Wolves to get this draw.

    Goalkeeper Ebele Obi, who was in goal for ‘The Naze Millionaires’, was a delight to watch as he made several saves including those against Ibenegbu and Adama Coulibaly.

    The home team scored first through a 41st minute penalty converted by Musa Najere after Amarachi Ukaegbu committed a foul. Amarachi Ukaegbu redeemed himself with the equaliser when he headed in from a corner kick in the 44th minute.

    Warri Wolves defender Thankgod Ike told MTNFootball.com that it was a tough match, but they threw away several chances.

    “It was a tough game, we did our best to win, we had many scoring chances that we failed to convert,” he said.

    Heartland official Tonex Chukwu said his team did enough to get a result on the road. “Our boys gave a good account of themselves, they fought like warriors. We deserved not to lose even though it was a tough game,” he offered.

    The game between Nembe City and Rangers will be played on Friday because Rangers could not return to the country as scheduled from a Champions League engagement in Burundi.

  • Nembe City shock Heartland in Owerri

    Nembe City shock Heartland in Owerri

    Newly promoted Nembe City football club became the first team to record an away victory in the Nigeria Professional Football League, when they shocked Federation Cup Champions 2-1 in Owerri on Sunday.

    The Yenagoa-based side, who are making their debut in the Nigeria Professional League, are coached by former Junior International defender, John Aranka.

    Aranka, who spent a good part of his career with Dolphins in Port Harcourt, lined out a 3-5-1 formation as he tried to keep the well oiled Heartland midfield at bay.

    The ploy seemed to work, as both sides played out an almost even contest at the early stages, but with Nembe slightly edging the contest because of their midfield mass.

    Brown Braye scored the opening goal for Nembe City, but Tope Olusesi pulled the goal back for Heartland. The celebrations for the equaliser had not does down, before Samuel Akinbinu lashed in a response, to put the visitors ahead again, and earn a famous win.