Heartland Assistant Coach, Charles Uzor, has expressed his dismay over their 1-0 defeat to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) at the Lekan Salami Stadium Ibadan on Sunday, but remains hopeful about the team’s prospects, Completesports.com reports.
The five-time NPFL champions, still searching for their first win of the 2024/2025 season, felt victory was within their grasp during the Matchday -4 encounter. Uzor, however, highlighted questionable refereeing decisions as a major factor in the defeat, particularly the disallowed goal by Suraju Lawal.
Lawal had fired a powerful shot into the bottom corner, and just as the Naze Millionaires were set to celebrate, the referee unexpectedly ruled out the goal. The call left both the players and travelling supporters frustrated, believing that the decision had robbed them of a deserved equaliser.
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“Today, everyone has seen that the result didn’t reflect the true picture of the game,” Uzor lamented, his voice filled with frustration when Completesports.com interviewed him after the match.
“At worst, it could have been 2-1 for us, but everyone has seen what happened. But we’ll keep working hard and we’ll continue to believe in the process.”
Despite their grievances, the Arugo Boys maintained their composure on the pitch, showcasing a sleek brand of football reminiscent of European giants like FC Barcelona and Manchester City. Heartland dominated possession, pressing for a comeback after falling behind to a 3SC goal five minutes past the half-hour mark.
Heartland’s attacking efforts were further hampered when Ikechukwu Mgbemena was brought down in the box by a 3SC defender while through on goal, but once again, the referee waved play on, ignoring what appeared to be a clear penalty.
Undeterred by the setbacks, the 2009 CAF Champions League finalists continued to press forward, playing with purpose and aggression. Although they controlled large portions of the match and created several chances, they were unable to find the back of the net.
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Charles Uzor, who once starred for Jasper United and Heartland as a wing-back, remains upbeat about his team’s progress despite the challenges. He is convinced that their current performance levels indicate that a win is imminent.
“We’ll keep working hard and trusting the process,” Uzor said, expressing optimism about the team’s trajectory. “The boys are giving everything, and it’s only a matter of time before we get the result we deserve.”
As Heartland prepare for their next fixture against Niger Tornadoes at the Dan Anyiam Stadium on Sunday for NPFL Match Day Five, Uzor and his team will be aiming to secure their first victory of the campaign, determined to turn their promising performances into points.
By Sab Osuji
