Heartland FC Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke, has expressed delight over the presence of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Sunday when Heartland FC hosted and played a goalless draw with rivals Rangers International in an NPFL Oriental Derby, Completesports.com reports.
For the first time in his five-year reign so far as the governor of Imo State, Uzodinma physically graced an NPFL match. The Matchday 13 Oriental Derby saw the Naze Millionaires host the reigning champions, Rangers, in a closely contested encounter.
A visibly pleased Amuneke praised the governor’s gesture, commending him for prioritising the team despite his busy schedule.
“Well, I’m happy. It shows that His Excellency is truly committed to the Heartland project and ensuring the team thrives,” said Amuneke, a former FC Barcelona winger and the 1994 African Player of the Year.
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“Our collective goal is to see this team succeed. For the governor, despite his tight schedule, to find the time to come and cheer us on is commendable. We sincerely appreciate him and say a big thank you for his support.”
Reflecting on the game, Amuneke lamented his team’s inability to secure a victory for the governor, noting that a win would have been the ultimate way to honour his presence.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win for him. That would have been the best gift. Nevertheless, we are grateful for his rare gesture and hope to see him more often at our matches,” Amuneke added.
The former Zamalek winger and 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning coach acknowledged the challenges faced in the Oriental Derby but expressed satisfaction with securing a point against the defending champions.
“Our intention is always to win. When you watch how we play, we try to manage the game while adapting to the challenges posed by the opposition. Rangers are a strong team with quality players, and as defending champions, they deserve respect,” he said.
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“We started the season on a shaky note, but we understand what went wrong and are working to improve. It’s important that we didn’t lose today. Now, we’ll go back, correct our mistakes, and prepare for our next game against Kwara United in Ilorin on Wednesday.”
Amuneke tactically analysed Rangers’ style of play, noting their strengths in midfield and their attacking left-back.
“Rangers are a team that likes to dominate the midfield with quality players. Their left-back often pushes forward to exploit spaces left by the wingers. We were aware of these dynamics, but football is unpredictable. We aimed for victory today, but it didn’t happen. We’ll take the point and continue working to grow as a team,” Amuneke remarked.
The scorer of Nigeria’s winning goal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games football final heaped praises on the loyal supporters of Heartland FC.
“We deeply appreciate our fans. They’ve been incredibly supportive, even when the season started poorly. Their belief in the process has been unwavering,” Amuneke hailed.
“This team belongs to them, and we, the players and coaches, need their continuous support. We promise to keep working hard to bring them joy.”
By Sab Osuji
