Heartland football club of Owerri retained the federation cup courtesy of a last – gasp Brendan Ogbu winner against Lobi starts inLagoson Sunday.
The cup holders fought back from a fifth minute opener by Ezekiel Bassey to draw level on the half hour mark through the lively Jolly Osas before Ogbu rose to nod home the winner in the stoppage time.
Heartland will again representNigeriain next year’s CAF Confederation cup and earned prize money of two million naira with a brand new trophy.
Ogbu was however adjudged the most valuable player competition, while Isah Akpo of prime FC was the highest goal scorer with six goals.
Prime FC earlier in the day beat Kano Pillars 3 – 2 on penalties after they were still tied at 1 – 1 in regulation time.
Heartland on their way to achieving this feeth suffered all kinds of digestion, unpaid sign – on fees, strike actions by the players to press home the demands for their entitlements and players feeding at ‘mama put’ centres at Port Harcourt and Ilorin during the group games and the semi final ties.
It was no longer news to the fans of Heartland and the sporting fraternity that the team was heavily underfunded as some members of the management team at sometime had to borrow or their personal funds to feed the players and pay accommodation bills.
Meanwhile, the Governor of the state, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Okorocha after the game described the achievement of the team as a demonstration of Imolites dogged heart for greatness.
It is however left to be seen, how the government intends to take care of the numerous ripples surrounding the team now it has once more qualified to representNigeriain the CAF Confederation cup next season.
