Heartland FC VS Heartland Feeders: Fallout of Quater finals

Heartland FC VS Heartland Feeders: Fallout of Quater finals

By Sampson Uhuegbu

The Quater finals clash of the Imo FA cup between two brother teams Heartland FC and their junior team Heartland feeders team didn’t end in the most palatable of manners as both under the same management but different coaching crew had a go at each other in an epic battle of ‘who is the boss’ show, the Statesman newspaper can exclusively report.

The thrilling encounter which took place at the old stadium Tetlow road Owerri on Thursday March 21st ended in a 1-1 draw which resulted in a penalty shootout.

During the ensuring penalty shootout, the score was at 4-4 but  when Heartland goalkeeper declined inability to continue game  sighting evening blindness.

Imo FA officials waded into the matter as both teams agreed to continue the game the next morning at 8am. Which evidently signaled the beginning of the drama.

On the said morning the Heartland feeders team failed to show up and was walked over but emanating reports pointed out that  it wasn’t the will of the feeders team not to show up as earlier presumed.

A voice note from feeder’s captain to his team mates making the rounds on social media later in the day showed that the players refused to show because they were threatened not to show up.

The captain alleged that he received several death threats asking him to refrain from showing up for the match or risk losing his life. In his voice note which went viral, the captain said;

“My players you guys are fighters and lions, I believe in you guys and you have made me proud including the coaches.

I know we have all done our part so well, even the imolites believe in us, this is our profession. We are here to do what we know how to do and we fought a good fight yesterday and I know that the world has seen us.

I’m travelling now because of the threats on my life, we live to play another day but I tell you guys that all these threats is for us to step down and they advance, we have nothing to prove anymore. We are better and I believe God has a better way to lift us up in this career so my brothers I want us to put our mind together.

I want us to stand down for the sake of our lives, we should let it be, football is not a do or die affair.

We will see again in our next training when I return.

All we know is that we have proven we can do it and I’m proud of u guys.” The captain popularly known as Bakasi said in the statement.

Having listened to this voice note, our correspondent put a phone call through to the head coach of the feeders team coach Chalse Uzoh, to ascertain the authenticity of this claims, Coach Uzoh said;

“Well all i can say to this is that, we  are acting under instructions and remember we have superiors and the superiors has issued an instruction for us to stand down, if you fail to obey this instructions, it could be perceived as insubordination against constituted authorities.

So the best situation was just to back down for now but we will continue to build the team going forward to be better than this.” Uzoh said.

When asked what message he has for aggrieved Imo fans, Coach Uzoh responded;

“Well i just want to urge the fans not to relent in supporting Heartland team, at the moment the team needs every support they can get to come out of this relegation zone and the Governor is willing to do what it takes to make sure the team doesn’t go on relegation.

We won’t benefit anything if the team sinks, every stakeholder has something to lose if that happens, so i urge sports fans to show love and unwavering support to the team as they fight to get out of relegation” Uzoh concluded.

Having spoken to the Feeders team coach, Our Correspondent reached out to the general Manager Mr Promise Nwachukwu to find out his own side of the story and Nwachukwu responded saying;

“The issue about the Imo FA cup has been settled done and dusted, we are moving on with other things.

The feeders team failed to show up at the stadium so they have been walked over but be that as it may, the two teams are one. Both Heartland FC and Heartland feeders team belong to the same management and the same government owns the two.

So there is no rift between the two teams because everything has been settled.

As for the life threats claim by the captain of feeders team, I can categorically tell you straight up that there is nothing of such. Nobody has threatened anybody, so all the captain Bakasi is saying are all lies.

At the moment we are getting ready for our game against Enugu Rangers and we don’t have time to battle with unnecessary frivolous accusations. This is cheap blackmail on his part and for a player we ensure their welfare on a daily, this is not a good way to pay us back for the good things we have done for them.

For all i know, that matter has been settled and we are moving on with other activities. “ Nwachukwu concluded.