Five-time Nigerian Champions, Heartland FC, have been dragged before FIFA by their former Brazilian player Santos Da Costa Ivo Jorge, over breach of contract, Completesports.com reports.
The Samba boy claims that Heartland unlawfully terminated his remaining one-year contract and have refused to pay him off.
Completesports.com’s checks at the Owerri side revealed that Santos penned a two-year contract with the club in 2018/2019. But after the season, many players, including the Brazilian, were laid off by a new management.
“Santos was affected. He has made several efforts to get justice which has not yielded any good result,” an official confirmed to Completesports.com on condition of anonymity.
“So, he headed for FIFA to lodge a complaint against the club”.
Recently, the League Management Company (LMC)/handed the club a two-year transfer ban as a result of
that illegitimate massive sacking of players.
The affected players, who are still owed several months salaries and who still have valid contracts with the club, petitioned the LMC. The league body sent some memos to Heartland but never received a response, which prompted it to wield the big stick.
Imo State government’s new Chief of Staff (Administration), Dr Patrick Ekeji – a former footballer, coach, and retired Director General of the National Sports Commission, (NSC), is currently saddled with the task of cleaning up all the mess in Heartland FC and repositioning the club.
Ekeji who had earlier headed a committee that reviewed the laws setting up the Imo Sports Commission has already interviewed four candidates for the position of the General Manager of the club.
While the appointment of a new GM is being awaited, Sunny Black Ogbeka, a former scouting officer of the club, recommends that whoever loves the club, and has administration acumen, should be appointed to steer the ship of Heartland FC.
Also Read: Nantes Activate €5m Option To Sign Simon From Levante
“I believe in who the cap fits, let him wear it,” said Ogbeka – a former board member of the club.
“Heartland has too many issues now to contend with. Their position in the league is not gladdening at all. So, what the club need now is someone who loves the club, knows the truth about the club and it’s myriad of problems as well as endowed with administrative acumen to navigate through the storm even at Abuja level.
“Besides, there is need to have at the helm, someone who is a go-getter in terms of sponsorship drive.
Ogbeka added: “Previously, Heartland had partnership deal with a Turkish club and it helped with jerseys, kits and technical assistance. The club, Boluspor, sent coach Mehmet Tayfun to Heartland on technical assistance.
“Heartland also had sponsorship deal with Dana Air who were flying the players to match venues.
“No doubt, Ekeji is a man of integrity. He played football at the highest level, coached the national team and administered sports at the highest level, so he will do a good job.
“The governor wants to reposition the club. He knows how dear the club is to the people of Imo State, hence he picked Ekeji to clean up the place and usher in a new era of glory for the club.
“Ekeji knows the need to entrust Heartland in the hands of someone that is success-driven, one who knows the root causes of the club’s problems and has the administrative capacity and experience to turn things around.”
