The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Heartland

  • ‘Relegation talks not for Heartland’

    ‘Relegation talks not for Heartland’

    Heartland head coach, Alphonsus Dike has promised that his side will successfully shake off the relegation scare in the on-going Nigerian top-flight.

    The Naze Millionaires benched Akwa United 2-0 in Saturday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday 24 clash at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

    Two second-half goals off the foot of substitute and debutant, Omo Johnson in the 61st minute and captain Chinedu Efugh handed the Owerri outfit a breather after going nine matches without a win.

    Dike said his side will be consistent with the survival fight in the remaining matches on the top-flight calendar.

    “We will successfully walk away from the threatening relegation wind as well as end the season’s campaign respectfully.

    “Saturday’s victory against Akwa United is a sign of a consistent approach for us to earn more wins in the on-going league season.

    “We will be religious on the survival path, especially with the new intakes complementing the efforts of the older players.

    “We are happy with the hard-fought victory as it will further boost the confidence of the players going forward in other matches,” said the former Enugu Rangers to supersport.com.

    Dike said his charges will further steel themselves to challenge Lobi Stars for the three points at stake in Makurdi.

    “We will take our time to work on the noted lapses before we head off to Makurdi to confront and challenge Lobi Stars.

    “Definitely, the cushioning from today’s (Saturday) win against Akwa United will help us to avoid pressure at Lobi Stars.

    “We hope for another five-star performance at Lobi Stars,” said the former Nasarawa United coach.

    The win against Akwa United takes Heartland’s total earnings to 26 from a possible 69 in the 24-week old top-flight.

  • Why Loute left Heartland – Agent

    Why Loute left Heartland – Agent

    Republic of Benin international Isaac Loute recently completed a two-year deal to FC Ifeanyi Ubah as a free agent and the player’s manager, Ola Fowla reveals that Heartland could not hold up their side of the agreements.

    “Heartland FC lacks financial integrity and they couldn’t meet up with our financial agreement which I have with them for the past four months. They also didn’t respect the player’s contract details too. However, I saw Ifeanyi Ubah as a more vibrant and ambitious team for a quality like Loute to flourish,” Fowla told Goal.

    Meanwhile, Heartland general manager Oscar Kingsley admitted that: “Both parties agreed that the details of the contract should be confidential. It’s not something I can talk about, please take note of that.”

  • Heartland release 5 players, to buy 5

    Heartland release 5 players, to buy 5

    Heartland have released about five players to pursue their football careers outside the Owerri based club after they failed to measure up to the standard expected of them, a top official of the club has told SportingLife.

    The Naze Millionaires are also looking at the opportunity of signing more players to fill in the void left by the departed players.

    The General Manager of the club, Oscar Keke confirmed to SportingLife that Heartland would present a formidable team that won’t be beaten by Enugu Rangers because the Flying Antelopes  have not won in Owerri for a very long time.

    He said that the defeat to Top World FC of Ekiti was a one-off and that what was responsible for the loss was because of the financial paucity in the club and other teams in the country because of the current economic situation in the country.

    Keke vowed that Heartland would come back stronger against Enugu Rangers whom they host this weekend at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri while also assuring that about five players will move in to the club.

  • Heartland crash out

    Heartland crash out

    Heartland of Owerri Wednesday crashed out of the 2016 FA Cup losing on penalties to underdogs Top World. The 2012 champions played a barren draw at regulation time, scoring three of their penalties as against four converted by Top World.

    The Nazi Millionaires who have recorded a number of goalless draws in the league recently confirmed the result shortly after the final whistle. ” Top World moves to the Round of 32 while it’s the end of the road for us in this year’s FA Cup,” the Alphonsus Dike tutored side dished out afterwards.

    It was however pleasant outing for Rivers United who survived initial scare from hard-fighting Papilo Fc to progress at the Umuahia township stadium. Both teams had posted what some fans desribed as classical football but it was Stanley Eguma’s Rivers United that survived leaving the shoreline at 4-3.

    Fans had rooted for Papilo considered underdogs in the encounter and the team fought to the finish getting ovation despite defeat.

  • AFTERMATH OF SIX MATCH BAN Ebele Obi poised to make Heartland comeback

    AFTERMATH OF SIX MATCH BAN Ebele Obi poised to make Heartland comeback

    Heartland goalkeeper, Ebele Obi is in pole position to return to the goal posts on Sunday when the Naze Millionaires tackled El Kanemi Warriors in Owerri after he completed his six match ban in last weekend in the away loss to Ikorodu United in Lagos.

    Ebele, the elder brother of the Chelsea of England midfielder was banned by the League Management Company (LMC) in Heartland’s Match Day 8 tie against FC IfeanyiUbah in Nnewi after he was alleged to have pushed the centre referee.

    He is now eligible to return to competitive club football after the expiration of his ban and the Media Officer of the club, Solomon Onu has disclosed that the goalkeeper may be in goal on Sunday against the Borno Army to mark his return from the ban.

    Meanwhile, Heartland FC’s Medical Team is also battling harder to ensure that Emeka Ogbugh, Onyebuchi Ajunwa and Roland Koffi are fit enough to face El Kanemi Warriors this weekend as they are still to be cleared by the doctors for the match which Brownbraye Okpus is eligible to feature now after putting him his recent injury scare and the concussion he suffered against Rivers United in Owerri.

    Fortune Omoniwari, who has scored two goals in the league this season for the Owerri side is also cleared to play after serving out his three game ban during the road trip to Umuahia where they drew 1-1with Enyimba.

    He was not fit enough to travel for the away game against Ikorodu United which they lost 1-3.

    Heartland are 11th on the log with 18 points from 14 games.

  • Nasarawa Utd pip Heartland 1-0

    Nasarawa Utd pip Heartland 1-0

    Skipper Emmanuel Makama’s 80th minute free-kick goal gave Nasarawa United a home win over Heartland in a Nigeria Premier League match on Thursday.

    It was only the second win of the season for the team who finished third last term.

    The victory took ‘The Solid Miners’ off the basement of the league table as they now have six points from seven matches to suck Ikorodu United to the bottom.

    Nasarawa piled on the pressure against Heartland, recording  as many as six corner kicks to Heartland’s one in the second half, but the match was eventually decided by that one piece of magic by Makama, whose free kick from outside the box 10 minutes from time beat young goalkeeper Emmanuel Iwu.

  • Heartland, Abia Warriors secure home win

    Heartland, Abia Warriors secure home win

    •Naze Millionaires beat Giwa in Owerri

    Heartland endured a downpour but still did enough to earn maximum points against Giwa FC in a NPFL Week 9 tie played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri yesterday.

    The Jos Elephant were able to hold the Naze Millionaires in the first half of the encounter but there was no stopping the hosts in the 55th minute when Emeka Atuloma put them in the driver’s seat after a clever side dummy from the former Dolphins’ striker before Roland Koffi added the insurance goal in the 88th minute.

    Heartland put behind them the episode in Nnewi and quickly settled down for real business immediately the game kicked off in Owerri but Giwa FC were truly at their best, especially in the first half to the disappointment of the home fans.

    The much expected goal did come 10 minutes from the second half as Atuloma put smiles back to the faces of Owerri fans before Ivorian defender, Koffi got the second goal in the 88th minute of the match.

    Heartland have now amassed 11 points from eight matches in the ongoing season.

    In Umuahia, Abia Warriors defeated spirited Niger Tornadoes 1-0 through a goal scored by Chisom Chikatara seven minutes from full time.

    The Minna based side were close to nicking a vital road point before Chikatara stabbed their hearts with the late strike.

    Abia Warriors are still unbeaten after eight games and have bagged 14 points in the process.

  • Continental campaign Heartland go spiritual for Enyimba, others

    Continental campaign Heartland go spiritual for Enyimba, others

    In what could pass for a rare show of sportsmanship and spirit of being their brother’s keeper, Premier league contenders heartland of Owerri Saturday intensified prayer for oriental brothers Enyimba, Warri Wolves and Nasarawa United ahead of CAF Champions league and CAF Confederation Cup ties today.

    Heartland who would have squared up against Enyimba in an oriental derby of the Nigerian premier league this weekend had to observe rest instead, following Enyimba’s Champions league clash against Vital O’ of Burundi.

    Warri Wolves equally flying the nation’s flag in the Champions league host Al-Merreikh  of Sudan just as Nasarawa who are the surviving flag bearers in the Confederation Cup following the exit of Akwa United battle CS Constantine of Algeria. Heartland apparently looking at the bigger picture and the benefits that will come not only to the country but teeming soccer fans in the country should the three flag bearers record Super Sunday wins, took to the social media to pray for the three clubs appealing to mother luck to grant them this day on one hand, and charging the teams to ensure they conquer the first round of the competitions on the other.

    “Goodluck to the teams representing Nigeria,  #CAFCL (@EnyimbaFC & @Warri_Wolves_FC) and #CAFCC (@Nasarawaunited). Go conquer the 1st round!”The Owerri landlords dished out.

    Heartland who are hoping to have a good run in the premier league this season with a view to returning to Continental campaigns, have recorded just a win in five matches played so far. The Nazi Millionaires who replaced coach Bethel Orji with Alphonsus Dike following home defeat by Abia Warriors last month, subsequently recorded a 3-1 loss away to Akwa United but earned a lone goal victory over Lobi Stars, last Sunday.

  • Omoniwari hands Heartland first win of the season

    Omoniwari hands Heartland first win of the season

    Heartland  laboured but deservedly got their first victory of the 2015/2016 NPFL season after a 1-0 win over Lobi Stars at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

    Fortune Omoniwari’s 40th minute goal mouth scramble strike was enough for the Naze Millionaires to sing a melodious song at the end of  regulation time yesterday in Owerri.

    The Pride of Makurdi pulled all strings in their armoury to get the equaliser but Heartland’s defence marshalled by goalkeeper, Ebele Obi and skipper, Chinedu Efugh stood their ground to claim all points.

    Before yesterday’s match, Heartland had played four games without a win with a paltry two points to show but the win over Lobi has taken their points tally to five from five matches.

  • Omoniwari: Heartland will achieve great things this season

    Omoniwari: Heartland will achieve great things this season

    •Commits self to Naze Millionaires

    Heartland striker Fortune Omoniwari has revealed that he is fully committed to the cause of the Naze Millionaires this season and that his Owerri fans will get to see the best of him starting from this weekend.

    Omoniwari was courted by many clubs during the off season; this includes Warri Wolves, Akwa United and Enyimba but the former Sharks forward decided to ignore them all so as to help Heartland succeed in the league this season.

    He told SportingLife that his target is to score as many goals as possible this season and that if fielded against Warri Wolves on Sunday in the league opener, the Seasiders would feel his pulse throughout the duration of the match.

    Omoniwari confessed various offers  almost turned his head but that after he considered the love and affection shown to him by the fans of the club, fellow players and the management, he chose to remain with the team to grab at least a continental ticket.

    The former Sharks player joined Heartland during the last mid-season and he made instant impact for the team and scored some crucial goals as the Naze Millionaires ended the campaign seventh on the log with 56 points from 38 games.