Wolves At Heart After Nembe Loss
Surely it has not been the best of times for Heartland fc Owerri, having lost three straight league games in a row leaving them with a must win game against a well-motivated Warri Wolves this Wednesday.
The Naze- Millionaires once more on Sunday failed to redeem their image as the if fell 0 2 to two first half goals of the newly promoted side that completed a double for the first time over the cup holders.
Just last Wednesday on resumption of the NPFL from a three week break, the back to-back cup winners also lost to their perianal Oriental rivals Enyimba 0 1 making it a quick succession of home and away losses to Nembe and Enyimba.
These series of losses no doubt has dampened the spirit of the Naze- Millionaires faithful’s and surely needs to be raised in other to avoid the condition of the team from plummeting.
In Wednesday’s game against Wolves the Nduka Ndubuisi led boys must work had enough to win back the mined of their fans and assure them that come next season the club will be back in the continental games.
Heartland has been depleted in various forms starting with the injuries ravaging their attack as Happy Okuoka and Isah Akor Umoruh has been ill, although Akor seems to be okay but Happy is yet to recover from her illness. Emeka Ogbuh is learnt to have travelled for trials while Ikechukwu Ibenegbu may have to cut short his honey moon as his services is seriously missing.
The issue of poor financial support from the Government has not in any way helped matters as Trumpeta recently gathered that only about 15% of the players singe-on fees have been paid while the season is already gone a situation that puts the players in poor psychological position.
However, the management has remained focused in their pursuit despite the back log of distractions it has been facing and hopes to get back to winning ways when Wolves a team they played1 1 with on their ground comes calling.
No doubt it is either now or never for the cup holders to revive their league ambition as any more bad result at home will spell doom, is Wolves in the heart of every Heartland player and fan?
Imo All-stars Humble Referees In Friendly
imo All-Stars International fc on Saturday July 6 humbled the Owerri- West Referees Society team 4 1 in a friendly football match played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.
The game which took place in the morning hours immediately after the ceremonies of the Olympic Day Run saw the likes of goal keeper Ubanwa Jonathan Jr. Monday Ibekwe, Mike Obi, Rev. Fr. Chika Opara, ACP Felix Kigigha (KSC), Hon. Ugochukwu Nnah and former players of Rangers International, Enyimba, Spartans/Iwuanyanwu National displaying their skills against the men in black.
Other members of the All-Stars who were at the venue of the match are Chief Uche Ejimorfor, former chairman Imo State FA and General Manager Iwuanyanwu National, Teddy Isiadinso (a committee member of NFF), Ray Ebede PA to Kanu Nwankwo and a host of other ex-international’s that are too numerous to mention.
On the side of the Referees was Sir. Kelechi Mejuobi (kSJ), Deputy Editor in Chief Trumpeta newspapers and Chairman Owerri-West Referee Society, Eng. Egbe Nwauche, secretary of the society, Pastor Uzowulu Kingsley, Vice Chairman of the society, Anthony Ogbonna, Fin. Sec., Orji Sampson, Pub. Sec, Njoku Williams, Welfare Officer, Ebere Ogbonna, a Staff of Fedponek and other referees.
The game which stated on a high pace saw the referees having more of the possession and creating scoring opportunities but failed to put them away.
Mid way into the first stanza the more experienced All-stars went ahead when Captain Mike Obi converted from the penalty spot after one of the referees was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area.
It was 2 0 at half time and with couple of changes made during the second stanza, All-stars through the injection of Jerry Uche Ex-Heartland player got two more goals before a late goal from Williams reduced the tally to 4 1, a respectable score line.
The game attracted an appreciable crowed that turned out to enjoy themselves including Nick Amadi of Municipal Referees (Premier), Emeka Nwaokorie, Imo Referee Council Vice Chairman and Goody Gbade, Chairman Owerri North Referee Society.
NPFL WEEK 21 GAMES
Pillars 3 –1 Wikki
Lobi 3 –4 Bayelsa
Dolphins — Akwa Utd
Gombe Utd 3 –2 3SC
Kwara Utd 0–0 ABS fc
Kaduna Utd 2 –0 Sunshine
Wolves 1 — 0 Sharks
Nembe 2 — 0 Heartland
Enyimba 1 –0 Rangers
El Kanemi 3 –0 Nasarawa
WEEK 22 GAMES
Bayelsa — Pillars
Akwa Utd — Lobi
3SC — Dolphins
ABS fc — Gombe Utd
Sunshine — Kwara Utd
Sharks — Kaduna Utd
Heartland — Wolves
Rangers — Nembe City
Nasarawa — Enyimba
Wikki — El Kanemi
FIFA U-20 ¼ FINAL RESULTS
6/7/13
France 4 0 Uzbekistan
Uruguay 1–0 Spain
7/7/13
