HEARTLAND SUPPORTERS BLAME UZODINMA FOR CLUB STRUGGLES
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Heartland FC of Owerri sponsored by the Imo State Government scrapped through last season to avoid relegation and have struggled all through the on-going season, stuck in the bottom four on the log.
Investigations reveal that the the Club is not receiving financial attention from the state Government led by Governor Hope Uzodinma, who is yet to attend any of the club fixtures home or away.
The players have on several occasions protested the non-payment of their salaries by threatening to boycott matches. Matters came to a head when the players were locked out of the hotel used as camp due to backlog of debts by the club.
Dan Chike Ọgụ, the State Commissioner for Sports declined comments on the plight of the club but a source close to him claimed that the Ministry has been making efforts to have subvention for the club released.
“You don’t expect him to use his personal money to run the club when the Governor is not releasing funds for that purpose”, the source said in defence of Ọgụ.
The MatchDay 34 fixture against Katsina United was almost aborted as the Imo State Football Association refused to open their offices for the regular pre-match conference.
They told the Match Commissioner, Mr. Bayo Olomodosi that the match can only hold if they get refund of previous money loaned the club for organising home matches.
“We provided money for the logistics of previous home matches and have not been reimbursed. We don’t have money for this match”, a State FA official told the Match Commissioner on Saturday.
It is not clear how the matter was resolved for the match to eventually hold and Heartland won 1-0 to stay 18th on the log.
Promise Nwachukwu, the Club General Manager refused to speak on the crisis stating that it remains an internal issue of the club.
A staunch Supporter of the club, Chima Nwaneri said it will be unfortunate for the club to be relegated, lamenting that “this club is a pride to us and should not be allowed to go down”.
“It is a shame that Governor Uzodinma is not showing any interest in the club. It is not yet late to rescue Heartland and it is in the hands of the Governor. We thought Rochas (the former Governor) was bad but this is worse”, Nwaneri swore.
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