NPFL: Heartland FC Crushes Elkanemi Warriors 2-0 To Stay On League Table

By Henry Echefu, Owerri.

It was a joyous mood for all foot ball lovers in Imo who turned out in their numbers at the new Okigwe township stadium to cheer their darling team to victory as they go past visiting Elkanemi Warriors of Maiduguri by 2 goals to 0 to stay safe on the league.

The Naze Millionaires who needed nothing but the three points at stake to survive a drop rose up to the day’s occasion with a 25th minute goal from Chukwudi Nwodu to keep the visitors at bay following their early minutes incursions.

The game which is the last game of the 2018/2019 abridged league season was a tensed one for all the teams occupying the middle position in the two groups league, but for the Naze Millonaires who are in group B and already on the red line going into the game against the Maiduguri landlords.

Though seen as a tough one for them before its commencement, the owerri landlords players leaved up to the expectation of their supporters and fans as they took the game to the visitors from the blast of the whistle to peg them from less counter attacks until the opener.

The Okigwe fans rose in jubilation when Nwodu slotted home a goal mouth scramble to put his side ahead, the fans where happy for what they saw haven wished the team who for the first time in its history made the city their home ground.

The Naze Millonaires went into the dressing room with the lead after a highly technical fist 45 minutes, but on return the Warriors came out smoking creating few chances which they failed to take as Heartland returned the attack with counters that mounted pressure until the 82nd Minute when new comer Francis Eze was tackled inside the box by the Warriors goal tender that gifted Heartland a spot kick which was converted by captain Uche Oguchi that took the game beyond the Warriors.

With the win Heartland finished the 2018/2019 NPFL abridged league on 6th position in the group B log with 31 points from 22 matches right behind Abia Warriors who have superior goal difference with same 31 points leaving Gombe, Elkanemi, Go-Round and Yobe who all dropped to the Nigeria National League for next season.

Chairman of Heartland Chief Goodfaith Etuemena said he is delighted over the players fine performance throughout the game and thanked the Okigwe Fans the entire Imo football lover who in one way or the other contributed towards the success story of the team, adding that he is very happy piloting the affairs of the only state owned football team even in the face of difficulties to safety and thanked God for his grace throughout the long journey.

The match also witnessed the presence of notable football stakeholders in Imo like two former Chairmen of the club Chief Ignatius Okeaghalam and Chief Fan Ndubuoke, former General manager of the team Mr Oscar Keke, the big one was the Governor Elect of the state Chief Emeka Ihedioha who was represented by the State PDP Chairman Chief Charlse Ezekwem, as well as other prominent Imo sports stake holders.