Imo SWAN task Heartland FC Mgt on players’ assessment ahead of new season

By Ikechukwu Iweajunwa

Owerri, Aug. 24, 2021

Imo chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has advised management of Heartland FC, Owerri to conduct sincere players assessment ahead of the new league season.

The group also admonished the team management to disengage players whose services are no longer needed and pay them their entitlement to avoid unwarranted litigation against the club.

These were part of a resolution which the association took at the end of its emergency congress meeting on Tuesday.

The communique signed by Mr Afam Echi and Tunde Liadi, Chairman and Secretary respectively, advised Imo Government to ensure early release of funds to the Club to enable them begin early preparation.

“We are aware that Heartland FC finished the just concluded league season in 13th position with 48 points from 38 games despite the quality of the technical crew and players at its disposal.

“While we commend the management, technical crew, players as well as fans of the club over their role in ensuring that the team avoided relegation, we are analysing various factors that led to the team’s poor performance.

“Knowing that the league season has just ended and various clubs are taking stock of the season, Imo SWAN is admonishing management of Heartland FC to do a sincere assessment of the players.

“They should disengage and settle with those whose services may not be needed ahead of the forthcoming season, to avoid future litigations and bickering.

“Imo SWAN is grateful to Imo government for the recent part-payment of Heartland FC debts but urged the government to consider as a priority, the restoration of the club’s monthly subvention.

“We implore government to make funds available to management of the club to ensure they fortify the squad with new quality players and extend the contract of the retained players.

“We the Sports Journalists as a critical stakeholder, will like government to set definite goals or targets for Heartland FC management and technical crew at the beginning of the season.

“Imo SWAN is also appealing to Heartland FC management to synergise with government representatives at the club before the league commences.

“They should ensure that all existing conflicts within the club are resolved before the start of the new NPFL season.

“We urge Heartland FC management to take media department of the club more seriously to foster mutual relationship with media stakeholders and deter all the shenanigans of successive seasons on the media practitioners.

“We call on Heartland FC management to ensure its marketing department is reinforced and more viable to drive sponsorship to the club and reduce the heavy burden on the State government,’’ the communique said..

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Heartland FC ended the 2021 campaign on 13th position, with 48 points in 38 games