Emmanuel Amuneke, Technical Manager of Heartland FC, has expressed delight following his side’s 2-0 away victory against Rangers in Sunday’s NPFL matchday 33 Oriental Derby at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, Completesports.com reports.
Suraju Lawal opened the scoring for the ‘Naze Millionaires’ 21 minutes into the match, before Isaac Nassy doubled the five-time champions’ advantage three minutes into the second half.
The victory eased relegation worries for the 2009 CAF Champions League runners-up, lifting them to 15th on the table with 41 points—moving them out of the drop zone.
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Amuneke, a former winger for Zamalek of Egypt and FC Barcelona of Spain, told reporters after the game that the win underscored his team’s ability to capitalise on key moments.
It was Heartland’s second away win of the season, both coming in Oriental Derbies—against Abia Warriors and now Rangers. Both matches ended in 2-0 victories for the three-time Federation Cup winners.
“I think the important thing is that we’ve come to believe in what we’re doing,” Amuneke said.
“In every journey, there will be ups and downs—there will be moments of doubt. But what matters is staying focused. As you mentioned, people in this part of the country may have seen us play. We’ve been playing good football.
“We’ve been creating lots of chances, but unfortunately haven’t always been able to convert them. But today, in such a big game against the defending champions, Rangers—a team with great potential and achievements—it was very, very important that we took the two chances that came our way and managed the game well. That’s exactly what we did.”
Amuneke also noted that the performance reflects the work his team has put in throughout the season.
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“What really excited me today is that we were able to demonstrate what we’ve been trying to do all season,” he added.
“Most of the players I have are young, with only a few experienced ones. But the important thing is that we showed we can play good football and achieve our objective, which was to claim all three points.
“So we’re happy. We’ll return home and continue working as we have been. Our next game is against Kwara United, and hopefully we’ll be in a position to secure the three points.”
Kwara United currently sit 11th on the NPFL table with 43 points.
By Sab Osuji
3 Comments
Amuneke is playing the best brand of football after Remo. Just that results have not been going their way. I hope this away win against Fidelis Rangers will lift their confidence in what Amuneke expects of them.
Hahahaha…they are playing the best brand of football yet languishing in and around the relegation zone (as is customary with the last 3 clubs your bronze-god has managed)……LMAOoo.
Earlier in the season, you gave a very fake excuse of “Heartland players are young”……LMAOoo
The likes of Remo Stars, Ikorodu United, and Abia Warriors, who are up the table competing for continental slots, are playing dirty football with players they signed from Europe right…….LMAOOoo.
Thank God your plans to have him installed as SE coach failed woefully…..LMaOooo. We dodged a whole missile there ey………LMAOooo
Chima E Samuel
You are completely un-right or in short wrong.
Amala Ikpunobrious already told you and then his bro Eba Afeshelu had to double down and stress the point and now last last – I Arara the Woke Geriatric of Willoughby way have spoken – You are a very MUMU guy and knows nothing about the beautiful game. The sooner somebody shut you ass up the better for the world of football in general. Nobody needs a tribalistic thieving moron running their fowl breath and polluting the air around our football. Please gerrout out of it and zip up your refuse hole. You rasclat batty boy lol!
You are not carried at all.