The power tussle for the soul of Heartland FC leadership is far from being settled as two parties are at loggerhead over who takes charge of the relegated side. It could be recalled that at the ending of last season, the Press Secretary to the Governor made a press release appointing Mr. Etuemena Chibuzo as the club’s Chairman. Unfortunately, Mr. Etuemena and his team could not deliver on the task, which was to make sure the Naze Millionaires escaped relegation.
After a poor outing which saw Heartland tasting relegation for the first time in history, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Ugonna Ozuruigbo who happens to be the supervisor of the club constituted a committee and mandated it to accept applications and appoint worthy personnel who would steer the ship of the Owerri based side back to NPFL. The Deputy Speaker then appointed Mr. Etuemna as General Manager of the club and Mr. Oscar Keke as Chief Operating Officer.
However, it was gathered that Mr. Etumena’s faction denied knowledge of any change in the board and claimed he remains the Chairman of the club and would readily quit if any appointment were done official from the source that made him chairman.
Recently it was gathered that the government has asked the two parties to settle amicably. Mr. Etuemena requested that some of his allies be added to the management team and in specific positions. The committee, which is influenced by the Deputy speaker, reneged and this has caused Mr. Etuemena’s camp to sit tight as chairman of the club pending further instructions from the Government of Imo state.
A source close to the club revealed that the Deputy Speaker’s camp have access to funds meant to run the club and they have gone ahead to hire a new technical Adviser in the person of Emmanuel Deutsch and also provided him with a house and car.
Most of the former players who featured for the side last season are back to training and have been participating in the pre-season programme initiated by coach Emmanuel Deutsch. The lads hold their training sessions at the Dan Anyiam stadium while the other factions are carrying out a pre-season campaign at the Old stadium along Tetlow road, Owerri.
Another controversy erupted on social media where Mr. Cajetan Nkwopara posted a report claiming that Heartland FC had played a friendly game at the old stadium with different sets of players. Commenting on the post, Amar Ignis, A renowned journalist of Imo decent and the Media Officer of the NNL noted that there have been conflicting reports from both Solomon Onu who is the media officer and Mr. Cajetan Nkwopara. The conversation ensued and Mr. Cajetan questioned the authority who made Solomon Onu the Media officer.
