Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Heartland FC are understood to be engrossed in huge debts to the tune of over N130m, Completesports.com has exclusively scooped.
The amount represents a balance of IMO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha’s approvals for the club for the outgoing 2018/2019 NPFL abridged season, but which is yet to be made available to Heartland management.
Completesports.com checks further revealed that with hope the balance sum would be released to the club, Heartland officials went about borrowing money to conduct their preseason buildup as well as recruitment of players.
“Today (Sunday, May 12) is my saddest moment in the game,” Executive Chairman of Heartland FC, Chief Chibuzor Etuemena “Bash” statee when contacted by Completesports.com after visiting Abia Warriors defeated Heartland 4-2 in an NPFL matchday-19 clash at Okigwe Township Stadium.
“I could not imagine Heartland losing to Abia Warriors 4-2. It is too painful, so sad, in fact, I’m heart broken.
“I tried to find sleep but it refused to come. But how can I sleep? Nobody seems to understand what I’m passing through.
“It’s like we are pursuing a poisonous animal like snake with empty hands.
Heartland chairman, Hon. Chibuzor Etuemena
“Yes, we are engrossed in huge debts, I’m being inundated with demands for the settlement of debts we owe to clubs as regards players recruitment.
“This is because balance of the money approved for us this season has not been released to us.
“Yes, N130m, that’s the outstanding balance of amount we are expecting from the government for this season. But it has not been made available.
“But we had to go ahead with the season. I had to borrow to keep things moving, hoping the balance of the money would be released.”
Heartland are in a fierce race against relegation but the 4-2 defeat to Abia Warriors in a matchday-19 clash on Sunday has further dragged the club deeper into relegation worries.
And Chief Etuemena, who is also called ‘Digital Chairman’ laments bitterly on the possible consequences of the unreleased funds on the club.
“That’s where the problem is. With the way things are going, how will I settle our debts?,” he moaned.
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