2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 1: Tough Oriental derby as Heartland FC faces uphill task against 10-time champions, Enyimba International FC

Posted : 07 September 2024

Heartland Football Club’s newly appointed Technical Adviser, Emmanuel Amuneke, has expressed optimism that his youthful team will surprise their opponents, the 10-time league champions, Enyimba International of Aba, in Sunday’s Oriental Derby set for the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

The Naze Millionaires have taken a bold step by appointing a highly experienced manager, a former national coach, to lead the team after last season’s unsuccessful stint in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), where they were relegated after just one season back in the elite league.

Amuneke, aware of the huge task ahead, admitted that he would have preferred not to start the 2024/25 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season opener with a tough opponent like Enyimba. However, he believes that Heartland, the team he now leads, will prevail over Enyimba when both teams clash on Sunday.

Amuneke, a one-time African Footballer of the Year who also serves as the club’s General Manager, revealed that he has assembled a group of young but determined players who he believes will give their opponents in the league a tough fight.

The former Nigerian international, who is not known for boasting, insists that he has pieced together raw talents discovered from various football academies around the South East and beyond to form the nucleus of a new Heartland FC that will make an impression in the NPFL this season.

“Having been called upon by His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State (Hope Uzodinma), to take over the affairs of Heartland FC and reposition the club to be competitive once again, I have, within a short time, selected about 30 players to start the process of rebuilding the club."

“I am pleased that the unveiling of the 30 players inside the refurbished Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, during the week attracted nearly a full stadium as our fans came out in large numbers to get a glimpse of the new players in their new jerseys.

"You can see the hunger in the eyes of these boys, and it gives me hope that we shall prevail over Enyimba come Sunday in our stadium,” said Amuneke.

Amuneke, who excelled as a player for club and country and also won trophies as both a player and coach for Nigeria’s U-17 football team, the Golden Eaglets, in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, acknowledged the challenge posed by Enyimba International. However, he confidently stated that the visitors would return to Aba empty-handed on Sunday night.

For the good of Heartland State, Governor Hope Uzodinma appointed Emmanuel Amuneke to lead Heartland FC to the Promised Land.

Meanwhile, the former African Footballer of the Year and assistant coach of the Super Eagles emphasized that he has the mandate of Governor Uzodinma to turn around the fortunes of Heartland FC, which has struggled in the NPFL in recent years due to poor management by past administrators.

“It is no longer news that the once-feared Heartland FC has suffered numerous misfortunes in recent times, especially over the past decade, where the club has been relegated more than twice due to bad management."

“I must say that I found the club in a state of disrepair with no proper structure. Those who ran it left huge debts, owing players, coaches, staff, and others. This situation prevented the team from performing on the pitch, but I have been tasked with putting things right. With the full backing of our Governor, to whom I report directly, I believe Heartland FC will return to its winning ways,” Amuneke concluded.

Heartland FC, formerly known as Spartans and later Iwuanyanwu Nationale, has won the Nigerian League five times, including four straight titles in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990, as well as in 1993. The club also reached the finals of the 1988 African Cup of Champions Clubs and the 2009 CAF Champions League, where they lost by an own goal to TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Lubumbashi.

On the other hand, Yemi Olanrewaju, the newly appointed permanent coach of Enyimba FC, has expressed confidence in his team's readiness for the upcoming 2024/2025 NPFL season.

Olanrewaju assured that the People’s Elephant would continue their tradition of winning, no matter the circumstances.

“We are ready, and we have no excuses now. The squad has been working tirelessly to integrate new signings into the team.”

He added, “The integration has been going well, and it’s time to translate it into results. We are eager to make a strong impression in the league, and we know that Heartland FC, led by Coach Emmanuel Amuneke, will pose a formidable challenge.”

Coach Olanrewaju acknowledged the opposition’s desire for a winning start, saying, “Coach Amuneke will want to start well too, but we are determined to give it our all and aim for a positive result in Owerri.”

The Enyimba FC squad has been preparing intensively for the new season, focusing on building a strong and dynamic team with strategy.

With a newfound sense of unity and purpose, the team is ready to take on the league’s challenges and make a statement in their opening match.

The match against Heartland FC will be the latest installment of the Oriental Derby, a rivalry that has produced many thrilling encounters over the years.

The last time the two teams met was in November 2023, when Stephen Chukwude scored the winner for Enyimba FC in a closely contested match.

Head to head

Enyimba International - Heartland (16.04.2024 | 16 Apr 2024 | 16/04/2024) 1:0 Premier League
Heartland - Enyimba International (25.11.2023 | 25 Nov 2023 | 25/11/2023) 0:1 Premier League
Enyimba International - Heartland (26.06.2022 | 26 Jun 2022 | 26/06/2022) 0:0 Premier League
Heartland - Enyimba International (26.02.2022 | 26 Feb 2022 | 26/02/2022) 1:0 Premier League
Enyimba International - Heartland (30.05.2021 | 30 May 2021 | 30/05/2021) 0:0 Premier League

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 1: Tough Oriental derby as Heartland FC faces uphill task against 10-time champions, Enyimba International FC

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