As the 2012/13 Nigerian football season gets set to kick off, Heartland football club of Owerri once again are locked in, tight financial situation even as they prepare for the scheduled super 4 among the continental teams.
Reports reaching Imo Trumpeta do indicate that the team which was due to depart Owerri on Monday was not only sapped of funds to execute the games in Kano, it also had no bus to travel with.
It also became glaring that unless something miraculous happened, the team may have boycotted the “Super 4” an act which will spell doom for the back to back federation and Charity Cup Champions as they need such games to stay fit before the Nigerian Premier League commences.
It would be recalled that, his excellence, Chief Rochas Okorocha had in 2011 after Heartland’s triumph in the Federation cup promised the team a brand new bus he even re-affirmed his promise when the team won back the same trophy in 2012 but up till now… the rest is history.
This also brings to question how ready the home ground of Heartland FC, Dan Anyiam Stadium is, considering that the turf and the spectator stands are all in a sorry state even with the amount of work claimed to have gone there.
Heartland faithfuls who spoke in anonymity wants the government to seriously come to the aid of the club which is now the pride of the southern Nigeria, believing that if all their requirements are met, the NPL League and CAF Cup will be theirs.
The team which finally departed Owerri on Monday will trade tackles with Rangers of Enugu, Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Kano Pillars for the Super Four trophy which was put together by NPL’s interim management committee between January 9 and 13.
Heartland had in December, defeated Kano Pillars the NPL champions in a Charity Cup game that usually ushers in the new season which is expected to kick off on February 16.
