There are two teams in the NPFL that have never been relegated. Heartland and their oriental neighbours, Enugu Rangers. But that could change, and here is why.
On Monday, July 18, 2016 Heartland head coach, Alphonsus Dike bade Heartland bye upon return from another futile campaign. This time it was at Mountain of Fire Miracles Ministries (MFM) FC leaving them to their fate to either to sink or swim in their worst season in almost a 40-year existence.
The Owerri outfit are ignobly placed on the 18th position in the 19-team top-flight having acquired a mere 29 points with 10 matches remaining on the season’s calendar.
The rot dates back to the commencement of the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Heartland shockingly let go the crème de la crème of its quality players to rivals without a template to replace the players and turned to the academies and feeder team to get a gaggle of rookies to prosecute their NPFL campaign.
Heartland just a few years ago in 2013 won the Federation Cup and now they sit in the basement of the NPFL
Even with her rookies and greenhorns the 2009 Caf Champions League finalists did not embark on any meaningful preseason to adequately prepare themselves for the on-going league season. They barely managed a one week closed camp at the outskirt of Port Harcourt where the then head coach, Bethel Orji tried to shape a squad to face the best in the land.
A drastic cut in the side’s annual infusion of cash from the financiers, Imo state government didn’t help either.
Since then Heartland have always been in want of funds to prosecute its programmes and could only watch in horror as other teams keep taking advantage of their dire straits to continuously poach their best legs without any resistance coming from anywhere to stem the tide.
Heartland have promised to show a new resolve
When the league kicked-off the ill-equipped and poorly motivated side hit the trenches with an uninspiring goalless draw against Warri Wolves in NPFL matchday 1 clash at hitherto fortress, Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri. The side then went to Bauchi to pull off a barren draw at Wikki Tourists only to have the bubble burst with two successive defeats to oriental neighbours, Abia Warriors on home soil and Akwa United. Coach Bethel Orji’s time was called up as if he was the problem.
Then came in the ‘Prof’ Dike [below] which a rich resume in the round leather game to steady the slide but the tide, too consumed him as he has now left the scene disappointed and frustrated.
Dike played 23 matches with Heartland, won eight, drew eight, lost 11 scored 19 goals and conceded 21 leaving the side on 29 points just one better than the bottom-placed newcomers, Ikorodu United on the top-flight log. Heartland today are still in search for an away win in the 27-week old Nigerian top-flight.
In addition to the bad tools he inherited from his predecessor, Dike’s tenure saw Heartland play second fiddle to lower division side, Papilo FC in the state FA Cup for the first time, and as expected got ditched in the Federation Cup round of 64 clash by an obscure non-league side, Top World FC.
The ex-Golden Eaglets and Enugu Rangers gaffer Dike, could have weathered the storm but eventually the poor team morale coupled with the politics in Owerri eventually got the best of him.
When another opportunity to shore up the player’s base came and expired during the mid-season transfer window Heartland not only didn’t replenish but actually lost more players as they witnessed the worst exodus of key players to rivals . Dike’s incessant cry for the team to be beefed up for the stiff challenges ahead simply went unheeded - again.
Now the reigns have fallen into the hands of former assistant coach , Mbwas Mangut and it is he who must now prevent the Naze Millionaires from slipping into the much dreaded relegation.
How far Mangut can go to save Heartland from going down will be seen in the next few matches vis-Ã -vis. He must now succeed where Orji and Dike have both failed and he must do this with pretty much the same ingredients.
Obviously the players know this and despite the low morale they have started to circle the wagons. There is a new sense of urgency in Owerri and a player speaking confidentially to supersport.com said the players have decided to close ranks and see Heartland overcome its darkest challenge irrespective of who is in-charge of the team.
“There is a consensus among the players to put behind them the resignation of coach Alphonsus Dike as we believe that the position we see ourselves on the log has nothing to do with the coaches.
“We have resolved not to play into the hands of our detractors or give anybody room to further impede on our survival fight.
“We are positive to see Heartland survive the drop, and it’s in the whole interest of the team, ourselves and career.
“To start with we expect nothing short of outright victory against neighbours, FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Sunday’s NPFL matchday 28 clash in Owerri.
“We have vowed not to toy with our home matches while we struggle to pick some points on the road.
“So it’s not about Orji, Dike or Mangut but about Heartland and mustering a will to survive and keep history intact.” said the unnamed player.
Never have truer words been spoken.
Culled from supersport.com
On Monday, July 18, 2016 Heartland head coach, Alphonsus Dike bade Heartland bye upon return from another futile campaign. This time it was at Mountain of Fire Miracles Ministries (MFM) FC leaving them to their fate to either to sink or swim in their worst season in almost a 40-year existence.
The Owerri outfit are ignobly placed on the 18th position in the 19-team top-flight having acquired a mere 29 points with 10 matches remaining on the season’s calendar.
The rot dates back to the commencement of the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Heartland shockingly let go the crème de la crème of its quality players to rivals without a template to replace the players and turned to the academies and feeder team to get a gaggle of rookies to prosecute their NPFL campaign.
Heartland just a few years ago in 2013 won the Federation Cup and now they sit in the basement of the NPFL
Even with her rookies and greenhorns the 2009 Caf Champions League finalists did not embark on any meaningful preseason to adequately prepare themselves for the on-going league season. They barely managed a one week closed camp at the outskirt of Port Harcourt where the then head coach, Bethel Orji tried to shape a squad to face the best in the land.
A drastic cut in the side’s annual infusion of cash from the financiers, Imo state government didn’t help either.
Since then Heartland have always been in want of funds to prosecute its programmes and could only watch in horror as other teams keep taking advantage of their dire straits to continuously poach their best legs without any resistance coming from anywhere to stem the tide.
Heartland have promised to show a new resolve
When the league kicked-off the ill-equipped and poorly motivated side hit the trenches with an uninspiring goalless draw against Warri Wolves in NPFL matchday 1 clash at hitherto fortress, Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri. The side then went to Bauchi to pull off a barren draw at Wikki Tourists only to have the bubble burst with two successive defeats to oriental neighbours, Abia Warriors on home soil and Akwa United. Coach Bethel Orji’s time was called up as if he was the problem.
Then came in the ‘Prof’ Dike [below] which a rich resume in the round leather game to steady the slide but the tide, too consumed him as he has now left the scene disappointed and frustrated.
Dike played 23 matches with Heartland, won eight, drew eight, lost 11 scored 19 goals and conceded 21 leaving the side on 29 points just one better than the bottom-placed newcomers, Ikorodu United on the top-flight log. Heartland today are still in search for an away win in the 27-week old Nigerian top-flight.
In addition to the bad tools he inherited from his predecessor, Dike’s tenure saw Heartland play second fiddle to lower division side, Papilo FC in the state FA Cup for the first time, and as expected got ditched in the Federation Cup round of 64 clash by an obscure non-league side, Top World FC.
The ex-Golden Eaglets and Enugu Rangers gaffer Dike, could have weathered the storm but eventually the poor team morale coupled with the politics in Owerri eventually got the best of him.
When another opportunity to shore up the player’s base came and expired during the mid-season transfer window Heartland not only didn’t replenish but actually lost more players as they witnessed the worst exodus of key players to rivals . Dike’s incessant cry for the team to be beefed up for the stiff challenges ahead simply went unheeded - again.
Now the reigns have fallen into the hands of former assistant coach , Mbwas Mangut and it is he who must now prevent the Naze Millionaires from slipping into the much dreaded relegation.
How far Mangut can go to save Heartland from going down will be seen in the next few matches vis-Ã -vis. He must now succeed where Orji and Dike have both failed and he must do this with pretty much the same ingredients.
Obviously the players know this and despite the low morale they have started to circle the wagons. There is a new sense of urgency in Owerri and a player speaking confidentially to supersport.com said the players have decided to close ranks and see Heartland overcome its darkest challenge irrespective of who is in-charge of the team.
“There is a consensus among the players to put behind them the resignation of coach Alphonsus Dike as we believe that the position we see ourselves on the log has nothing to do with the coaches.
“We have resolved not to play into the hands of our detractors or give anybody room to further impede on our survival fight.
“We are positive to see Heartland survive the drop, and it’s in the whole interest of the team, ourselves and career.
“To start with we expect nothing short of outright victory against neighbours, FC Ifeanyi Ubah in Sunday’s NPFL matchday 28 clash in Owerri.
“We have vowed not to toy with our home matches while we struggle to pick some points on the road.
“So it’s not about Orji, Dike or Mangut but about Heartland and mustering a will to survive and keep history intact.” said the unnamed player.
Never have truer words been spoken.
Culled from supersport.com
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