The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Heartland

  • Ajoku vows to score against Gombe United

    Ajoku vows to score against Gombe United

     

     

     

    Niger Tornadoes leading goal scorer in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Chidebere Blessing Ajoku says he hopes to re-discover his scoring form beginning with the tie against Gombe United on Sunday.

    Ajoku last scored on match day 7 in Niger Tornadoes 0-1 win over Remo Stars in Sagamu, revealing that he is not happy to have played two matches now without registering his name in the score sheet especially after setting 15 goals target for himself.

    “I am not happy that I have not scored since getting the lone goal winner at the match day 7 at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu”, he said.

    The former Heartland striker said he has been training hard with intent to bouncing back with a bang, adding that the desire in the tie against Gombe United is not just about scoring but claiming the three points at stake

    “It is not about me scoring, but if I see the opportunity I will take it. I am not going to force it happen, goal scoring is a natural thing. If I can’t score I will assist others to score. It is a team work”, Ajoku explained.

    Ajoku currently has four goals to his name with Tornadoes sitting 8th on the log with 12 points in nine matches, Sunday’s opponents Gombe, are just two places below with 11 points in nine matches.

  • NPFL return: Heartland must check distractions -Dike

    NPFL return: Heartland must check distractions -Dike

     

     

    Former Heartland coach Alphonsus Dike has expressed optimism that the Owerri based side will return to the elite division, adding however that distractions must be kept at arm’s length if the dream is to be achieved.

    The Nazi Millionaires according to him had no business going on relegation, noting that clash of interest was allowed to take the center stage at the expense of football and good of the club.

    “I believe the club can come back, but they have to get their acts together. Last season was full of distractions for the side and if they can keep that away, then their sojourn at the lower league will be short which means immediate return to the elite division after one season,, “he said

    The former Golden Eaglets coach who has been described as an all-rounder following his wealth of experience in the league, said it is not out of place for a club to have a few hiccups but such drawbacks must not be allowed to affect the players and the club.

    “The interest of the club and the state should be paramount because if a club does well both in the local league and in the continent, it is a plus for the club, the state and the country,” he added

    Aside from Heartland Dike has in the past coached current league defending champions Rangers International, Nasarawa United of Lafia and FC Taraba among others.

  • Imo govt presents car to Heartland’s technical crew

    Imo govt presents car to Heartland’s technical crew

    Heartland FC Technical Adviser, Emmanuel Deutsch has been presented with a brand new Toyota Sienna Car on behalf of his technical crew and the Cameroonian has also got the keys to his three bedroom apartment to aid him in his new designation as the Naze Millionaires’ coach.

    An elated Deutsch while receiving the car from the Supervisor of the club, Ugonna Ozuruigbo was full of praises for the state government promising to give his best to the team to ensure that Heartland does not stay more than a season in the lower league.

    The coach further announced that the players would resume on Tuesday, November 29 and  they are all expected at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on or before 8am same day.

  • Etuemena: Heartland management has not been dissolved

    Etuemena: Heartland management has not been dissolved

    Chibuzor Goodfaith Etuemena has revealed that he still remains the chairman of Heartland and that the public should disregard the purported media reports credited to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ugonna Ozuruigbo that the Naze Millionaires’ management has been dissolved.

    Etuemena in a signed press statement through the club’s Director of Media,Cajetan Nkwopara disclosed that the Imo State  government which appointed him as the boss of the Owerri side has not said anything contrary and has warned the  state’s Deputy Speaker who within his scope as the Supervisor of the club, not to hijack it.

    Etuemena said: “The facts remains that I was appointed the chairman of Heartland by the state government and the same government appointed Ozuruigbo as a supervisor in Heartland FC. If my position is to change, the same government will write and inform me that I am no longer the chairman of the club but this has not happened. I have checked and found that the government has not directed anybody to dissolve my management team.

    “I am ready to work with Ozuruigbo as long as he is willing to limit his activities to the areas of his appointment. He has no right to take over the running of the club from me. He is a serving law-maker and Heartland is a parastatal. I don’t know where in the civil service rule a sitting law-maker would be required to run a ministry or a parastatal while at the same time collecting his salaries and allowances from the same government source.

    “May I therefore, seize this opportunity to reassure our great players, hard working technical crew members and  staff as well as our loyal supporters club members and the general public that for now, nothing has changed and that Heartland FC are still intact while I remain the chairman.”

  • Imo government dissolves Heartland management

    Imo government dissolves Heartland management

     

    Imo Government has dissolved the management of Heartland FC after the team’s relegation to the lower league and has constituted a technical committee to see to oversee the recruitment of new management and technical crew for the Naze Millionaires ahead of life in the Nigeria National League (NNL).

    The Media aide of the team, Solomon Onu told SportingLife that the state government made the announcement yesterday through the Deputy Speaker, Imo House of Assembly, Ugonna Ozurigbo who has now resurfaced as supervisor of the team.

    He also disclosed that the former Chairman of the team, Chibuzor Etuemena has now been made the club’s General Manager while Oscar Keke, the immediate past General Manager has been re-appointed as the Chief Operating Officer.

    Onu further hinted that the state government has appointed state’s former Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Nnamdi Obiareri and ex-Heartland Team Manager, Emeka Iwuagwu to serve as the technical committee members to supervise the appointment of new management and technical crew for Heartland FC.

    He said the state government made the changes to ensure that Heartland gain an instant return to the topflight at the end of the next soccer season.

    Heartland was relegated at the end of the past league season after placing 18th on the log with 43 points from 36 matches.

  • Heartland reorganise board, fire coaches to return to top league

    Heartland reorganise board, fire coaches to return to top league

    The management, coaches and the supporters club of Heartland have been reorganised with the aim of getting the Owerri club back to the premier league at first attempt.

    A statement signed by the supervisor of the club and deputy speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly Ugonna Ozuruigbo announced that Chibuzo Etuemena has been appointed the new general manager of the club, while Oscar Keke returns as Chief Operating Officer.

    He further stated that a technical committee has been set up to advice on the composition of the new management team and coaches with a view of returning the club to the elite division in one season.

    The committee has Nnamdi Obiaraeri and former Heartland official Emeka Iwuagwu as members.

  • Heartland, Plateau Utd accept LMC sanctions

    Heartland, Plateau Utd accept LMC sanctions

    Heartland FC has written to the League Management Company (LMC) communicating their decision to withdraw an earlier rejection of the Summary Jurisdiction Notice issued the club for abandoning their Match Day 38 fixture in Jos against Plateau United.

    Plateau United had earlier accepted a Summary Jurisdiction which fined the club One million Naira (N1m) for the unruly conduct of their supporters who threw objects onto the field of play, in violation of Rules B13.18 of the Framework and Rules

    The LMC had in the aftermath of the match, charged Heartland with breach of Rule B13.26 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Framework and Rules which makes it an offence for a club to refuse continuation of play during a match.

    Heartland was fined Three Million Naira (N3m) and forfeiture of the three points and three goals to their opponent, Plateau United.

    Heartland players had abandoned the match in protest to the match referee’s decision with scores at 1-1.

    In their letter dated October 11, General Manager of Heartland FC, Oscar Keke said the club had reconsidered their position in an October 7, 2016 letter rejecting the charge and decision of the LMC.

    “Our earlier letter on the above dated October 7 refers. We have reconsidered our position and hereby submit to the board’s jurisdiction thereof”.

    The club further apologised for inconveniences their earlier position might have caused the League.

    Heartland thus ended the season on 18th position with 36 points and stand relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL).

  • Heartland to appeal relegation

    Heartland to appeal relegation

    Four-time Nigeria champions Heartland have announced they will appeal a decision by the League Management Company (LMC) to relegate them after their last league match was awarded to hosts Plateau United.

    Heartland will appear before the commission that would be set up by the League Management Company (LMC) as a first step towards seeking redress from the sanctions imposed on them after an abandoned league game at Plateau United.

    The club’s director of media, Cajetan Nkwopara, in a statement on Friday said that the commission might not be the last port for case as Heartland are ready to pursue all channels of justice to put an end to the reign of a dubious cartel that has seized up the apparatus of match officiating in Nigeria football.

    Nkwopara said the sanctions by the LMC were an initial administrative action but cautioned that the LMC risks shooting itself in the foot if it does not quickly apply wisdom and address the case in its proper perspective.

    “The whole world is already judging the case and by the grace of God, Heartland already have offers from reputable international football experts who would like to help advance the case before the world football court and which is capable of sparking off an uncanny revolution in Nigeria football league,” he stated.

    The director of media said Heartland would obediently follow laid down rules in seeking redress but will not stop at that if justice is not done.

    “We’re touched by the shocking reaction of the world to the overall inglorious conduct of that game in Jos and we thank everybody for the sympathies expressed after viewing clips of the match,” he said.

    “We also call on all progressives who want a better future for Nigeria football to stand behind Heartland while we fight the cankerworm in the Nigeria football.”

     

  • Heartland in auto accident in Maiduguri

    Heartland in auto accident in Maiduguri

    Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Heartland were involved in an auto accident in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

    The Owerri-based side were in Maiduguri to honour the NPFL matchday 35 clash against El Kanemi Warriors today at the Maiduguri Township Stadium.

    The team arrived safely in Maiduguri on Wednesday but the hosts’ team bus conveying the Naze Millionaires to their hotels ran into a Nigerian Army Hilux Jeep on the Kano/Jos road near the Ramat Polytechnic.

    No death was recorded in the auto accident but nine Heartland players sustained varying degree of injuries.

    The injured were taken to hospital for treatment while El Kanemi Warriors’ officials were making frantic efforts to get another vehicle to take others to the hotel.

    El Kanemi Warriors secretary Tahir Bala confirmed the auto accident and equally confirmed that nine players were injured.

    “Yes, the bus conveying Heartland team from the airport to their hotel just had an accident with an army car but no death was recorded, but nine players sustained bruises.

    “We are making frantic efforts to take the injured to hospital for treatment while arrangement is going on to take others to their hotel. That’s what I can say for now,” said Bala to supersport.com.

    The top-flight clash could not be held on Saturday like others as Heartland were unable to secure a flight to Maiduguri on Thursday from Abuja.

  • Heartland in auto accident in Maiduguri

    Heartland in auto accident in Maiduguri

    Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Heartland were involved in an auto accident in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

    The Owerri-based side were in Maiduguri to honour the NPFL matchday 35 clash against El Kanemi Warriors today at the Maiduguri Township Stadium.

    The team arrived safely in Maiduguri on Wednesday but the hosts’ team bus conveying the Naze Millionaires to their hotels ran into a Nigerian Army Hilux Jeep on the Kano/Jos road near the Ramat Polytechnic.

    No death was recorded in the auto accident but nine Heartland players sustained varying degree of injuries.

    The injured were taken to hospital for treatment while El Kanemi Warriors’ officials were making frantic efforts to get another vehicle to take others to the hotel.

    El Kanemi Warriors secretary Tahir Bala confirmed the auto accident and equally confirmed that nine players were injured.

    “Yes, the bus conveying Heartland team from the airport to their hotel just had an accident with an army car but no death was recorded, but nine players sustained bruises.

    “We are making frantic efforts to take the injured to hospital for treatment while arrangement is going on to take others to their hotel. That’s what I can say for now,” said Bala to supersport.com.

    The top-flight clash could not be held on Saturday like others as Heartland were unable to secure a flight to Maiduguri on Thursday from Abuja.