Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state has unveiled a former super Eagles superstar, Emmanuel Amuneke as the new coach of the state owned Heartland Football club of Owerri.
Uzodimma announced Amuneke who hails from Eziobodo community in the Owerri West Local Government Area of the state at state government House in Owerri on Monday.
Unveiling Amuneke, Uzodimma disclosed that the new goal of the club is to win the 2024/2025 Nigeria top flight league title and to do well in continental championship.
A statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Oguwike Nwachuku, in Owerri, further informed that the governor described Amuneke as “one of Nigeria’s best in football management and technical administration/know-how.”
The statement read “the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has unveiled a renowned football administrator and tactician, Mr. Emmanuel Amuneke as the Technical Manager of Heartland Football Club Owerri, Imo State.
“He did at the New Executive Council Chambers, Government House Owerri on Monday (August 5, 2024), where he said that the idea was to “reposition the Heartland Football Club for a brighter future to the happiness of Imo people and football enthusiasts in particular.”
“The Governor recalled that on assumption of office in 2020 his administration met a Heartland Football Club that was relegated and that he made frantic efforts to bring it back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPF).
“He however regretted that recent events show that the Football Club has gone back to the drain again, “and can only come back to life by reorganising the administrative structure and reposition the management and technical team of the Club.”
“The Governor said to deal with the situation on ground, he has been able to identify one of Nigeria’s best in football management and technical administration/know-how, in the person of Mr Emmanuel Amuneke, to manage and bring back Heartland FC to her past glory.
“Governor Uzodimma therefore expressed joy that Amuneke has graciously accepted and agreed to take up the responsibility, noting
that the “target of the technical team is that they must win the Premiership and go for Continental competition.”
“The Governor assured that his government is commited towards “providing the necessary needs that will enable the technical team succeed and put joy and smile back on the faces of our people and bring back what Heartland FC used to be.”
“To make Amuneke’s job effective and seamless, devoid of unnecessary bureaucracy, the Governor offered to deal directly with his Management team through direct reportage to his office.
“Responding to the offer, Mr Amuneke thanked the Governor, government and people of Imo State for the privilege to serve and promised to do his best, humanly possible, to achieve the set target of bringing Heartland Football Club back to where it used to be.
“He described the assignment as homecoming for him, noting that the assignment to succeed is a collective thing and that he is driven by the objective of ensuring success at any point in time because “the people deserve to have happiness and joy on their faces always.”
“The unveiling was witnessed by all members of Imo Executive Council in attendance for an emergency Exco sitting of the State.
“The football tactician was accompanied by the management and staff of the Ministry of Sports Development in Imo State.”
Okeomanews reports that Heartland FC returned to the top flight league after it bought the top flight spot of Beyond Limited FC.
Heartland FC went on relegation at the end of the 2023/2024 league season having finished in the bottom three of the league’s table.
