Heartland Football Club of Owerri pre-season screening is getting deeper as test games are being organized to put some selected players in good shape.
Earlier in the week, the Naze Millionaires hosted a couple of decent sides to a tantalizing encounter. The Owerri based side took on Owerri Selected Eleven and the game ended 1-0 in favour of Emmanuel Deutsch’ men. The other game in the week saw Heartland being held to a 1-1 draw at the Dan Anyiam stadium by visiting Mbano United.
The gaffer, in a chat with Sports Ambassador, expressed delight over the performance of the lads, stressing that it is a team that is barely a month old, they get to know each other and gain cohesion. He highlighted grey arrears which needed to be worked on and encouraged budding talents who feel they have what it takes to feature for Heartland to come over for the pre-season screening.
However, some of the former players of the club have returned to training and they are included by the Technical Adviser in his programme. It is also worthy of note that the screening exercise shall have a break by the 23rd of December 2016 and continue next year.
It can be recalled that Heartland FC who have come to terms with their relegation fate are now poised to make a return to the elite division. This motive cost them to set up a new managerial team that will pilot the affairs of the club in the coming season.
Meanwhile, a host of old players have been spotted with other premier league sides. The likes of EmekaOgbugh was part of the Rivers United contingent in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Super Four tournament in Enugu. The Imo State University (IMSU) graduate was also instrumental to the Port Harcourt’s side pre-season tournament where they lifted the Shehu Dikko Pre-Season Tourney trophy in Kaduna. Other players: OmoJohnsoan and NnaemekaAnyanwu were also wearing the Wikki Tourist jersey and helped the Bauchi side beat FC IfeanyiUbah in the NPFL Super Four opening game. Likewise, coach MangutMbwas has pitched tent with the Tourists and is now the assistant to former Kano Pillars gaffer Baba Ganaru. Youthful protégé, IwuanyawuAjoku has also been spotted with Minna based side, Niger Tornadoes.
Sports Ambassador also gathered that skipper of the Naze Millionaires, ChineduEfugh will likely make a move to Abia Warriors. Shot stopper, Emmanuel Iwu is already with Akwa United and is with the team in their pre-season programme in Calabar.
However, sources close to the Heartland camp revealed that it would be difficult for the players to leave without due process. The source stressed that with the latest TMS and FIFA licensing policy on ground, players who still have existing contracts with their clubs will not find it easy to walk away without necessary documentations.
Heartland FC of Owerri will take part in the Nigerian National League (NNL), which is the second tier of Nigerian football. The date for the NNL is yet to be confirmed.
