Ifeanyi Ekwueme, a former Super Eagles midfielder has been named the Sporting Director of Heartland Football Club, following the reorganisation carried out in the Naze Millionaires, Completesports.com reports.
Ekwueme, 39, replaces a former junior international, Promise Nwachukwu, who now gets the portfolio of assistant Sporting Director.
Ekwueme, a left footed midfielder during his illustrious career, started off at (defunct) NEPA FC Lagos, before joining to Jasper United of Onitsha in 1997.
In 1999, Ekwueme made a career breakthrough in Europe with a move to Polish side Polonia Warsaw (1999–2002).
He made his Super Eagles debut in 2001 in a Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar in Benin.
Before calling time on his career, Ekwueme also starred for a host of European clubs, notably in Poland, including Widzew Lodz (2002), Polonia Warsaw (2002–2003), Wisla Plock (2003–2004), Ari’s Saloniki (2004–2005), AS Veria (2005–2006), UNIA Janikowo 2007), Warts Pozna (2007–2008), Znicz Pruszkow (2008-2009) and LZS Piotrowka (2010) where he eventually retired.
On his retirement from active football, Ekwueme veered into sports marketing and is currently Africa representative of Rico Select, a Poland-based sportswear manufacturing company.
The sportswear outfit is currently organising a talent hunt at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
“I feel excited and honoured to be named as Sporting Director of Heartland Football Club,” Ekwueme told Completesports.com.
“It’s humbling. Of course, it’s a challenge and I hope to do my best to deliver and justify the confidence reposed in me.
“We have a management team full of experience. We also have sound technical crew and quality players.
“Hopefully, we are going to make the best of the opportunity to achieve good result at the end of the season.”
The new Heartland Sporting Director duly prepared himself well before venturing into management, having acquired a UEFA Pro B Coaching License before joining Heartland.
By Sab Osuji
