Imo indigenes in Ebonyi hail Heartland’s NPFL return

Published

10 months ago

July 6, 2023

Imo indigenes in Ebonyi have commended Heartland Football Club of Owerri, for returning to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after being relegated to the Nigeria Nationwide League.

News reports that Heartland was relegated to the NNL for the 2022/23 football season following string of poor performances.

Heartland, however won the NNL southern conference Super 8 play-offs in Asaba on Wednesday evening to earn promotion to the NPFL.

The team will confront the northern conference winners, Kano Pillars of Kano on Friday, in a champion of champions’ match to determine the overall winner.

The indigenes who spoke to newsmen on Thursday in Abakaliki, said the feat demonstrated the indomitable spirit of the Imo man.

Amos Ogbuehi, President of the Owerri Welfare Association, Ebonyi branch, said that the team deserves to be celebrated for returning to the NPFL.

“Heartland proved that an old soldier never dies as Imo football fans were heartbroken when the club was relegated.

“The team’s swift response in gaining promotion to the NPFL gives credence to the old saying that, experience is not bought in the market,” he said.

Jacob Nlemadim, a civil servant, said that the team’s response to the ugly situation of relegation ensured its instant return to the NPFL.

“The team accepted the reality of relegation and ultimately faced the herculean task of gaining promotion.

“Special commendation goes to individuals such as skipper Nnaemeka Anyanwu, other players and officials who did not leave the club but fought to reclaim its pride,” he said.

Ndudirim Ofururm, a transporter said that the team’s promotion was remarkable due to the usual complexities of second-tier leagues.

“The competition in lower leagues across the globe is more intense as every team desire to compete in the elite league.

‘I urge the team to defeat Kano Pillars on Friday to emerge the champions of the NNL and prove that its promotion is not a fluke,” he said.

Betty Onuigbo, a Female Footballer, commended the state government for supporting heartland to excel and urged it not to abandon the team.

“The promotion could have been difficult without the state government’s support considering the difficulties experienced in league participation in Nigeria.

“I also urge the government to check all lapses responsible for the team’s relegation in other to avoid a repeat,” she said.

Related Topics:Amos Ogbuehi Ebonyi branch Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)President of the Owerri Welfare Association

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Chelsea thrash West Ham to move above United

Published

7 hours ago

May 5, 2024

NewsDirect

Chelsea thrashed West Ham 5-0 to move above Manchester United into seventh place and keep their hopes of European qualification on Sunday.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is fighting to convince the club’s co-owner Todd Boehly to give him a second season in charge after his troubled debut campaign.

Pochettino admits it is “not his decision” if he stays, but securing a place in Europe could be enough to avoid the sack.

Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead in the 15th minute with his 21st league goal of the season, the forward firing home after West Ham failed to clear.

Conor Gallagher doubled Chelsea’s advantage after 30 minutes with a blistering volley after West Ham’s Kurt Zouma deflected the ball towards the midfielder.

Noni Madueke bagged Chelsea’s third six minutes later as the winger turned in Thiago Silva’s header from close range.

Nicolas Jackson piled on the misery for woeful West Ham in the 48th minute with a tap-in from Madueke’s cross.

Dominican Republic 2024: Burkinabe Under 17 girls to host Flamingos on neutral ground

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

NewsDirect

The Nigeria’s Under 17 female football team,the Flamingos will play their away match against their Burkinabe counterparts in the 2024 FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture on a neutral ground in Bamako, Mali.

Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stated this in a statement on Friday.

The world body insisted that the Burkinabes cannot play in Ouagadougou due to the poor state of their home venue.

The decision has seen the Burkinabes opt for the Malian capital, where they will host the Flamingos on May 11 from 4 pm Mali time, 5pm Nigeria time.

The return leg will come up at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on May 18 from 4.30 pm Nigeria time.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Suavis Iratunga from Burundi as referee for the match that will take place at the March 26 Stadium.

Her compatriots Fides Bangurambona, Alida Iradukunda and Joselyne Nsabimana as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.

Oumou Souleyman Kanefrom Mauritania will be commissioner while Aya Irene Ahoua from Cote d’Ivoire will be the referee assessor.

The return leg in Abuja, will have Aline Umutoni from Rwanda as the referee, with her compatriots Alice Umutesi and Sandrine Usenga as assistant 1 and assistant 2 respectively.

Ethiopian Raya Sisay will be the fourth official, with Naa Odofoley Nortey as commissioner and Senegalese Fatou Gaye as referee assessor.

The Flamingos’ delegation to Bamako will leave Abuja on Wednesday for Bamako for the encounter.

The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 will take place in the Dominican Republic from Oct. 16 to Nov.3.

This will be the first time that the Dominican Republic will host a FIFA tournament.

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UEFA 2024 Rankings: Man City, Bayern, Real Madrid lead as Chelsea drops

Published

3 days ago

May 2, 2024

NewsDirect

Premier League champions, Manchester City, currently tops UEFA’s coefficient rankings.

In the latest ranking released by UEFA through their website, Man City is ahead of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, who are in the top three positions.

Chelsea dropped one place when compared to the previous ranking, but still made the top 10 alongside Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Manchester United are outside of the top 10.

Below are the top 20 teams revealed by UEFA:

1.Man City
2.Bayern Munich
3.Real Madrid
4.Paris Saint-Germain
5.Liverpool
6.Inter Milan
7. AS Roma
8.Leipzig
9.Chelsea
10.Dortmund
11.Man United
12.Barcelona
13.Atletico Madrid
14.Bayer Leverkusen
15.Sevilla
16.Villarreal
17.Napoli
18.uventus
19.Benfica
20.Porto