… Wants Amuneke’s role defined
By Ori Martins
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Imo State Chapter, has decried its displeasure over Heartland FC’s failure to gain promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after a disappointing Nigeria National League campaign.
In a release made available in Owerri and signed by its chairman, Cosmos Chukwuemeka, Imo SWAN said, “This marks the first time in the club’s history that it has been relegated and failed to return immediately to the elite division after playing in the NNL, a development that has left Imolites deeply concerned, given the club’s pedigree as one of Nigeria’s traditional football institutions”.
The sports reporters association observed that in the seasons Heartland were relegated and failed to gain immediate promotion, Emmenuel Amuneke, the head coach, served in multiple capacities that might have distracted him from concentrating on his duty post.
According to the association, “Imo SWAN noted that under the leadership of Coach Emmanuel Amuneke (MFR), who has simultaneously served as Technical Manager, General Manager, and Chairman, the team was relegated from the NPFL and has now failed to achieve promotion. While commending Amuneke’s efforts in ensuring the prompt payment of salaries, the association stressed that the workload placed on him has been excessive, with many of his supporting staff still learning on the job”.
The chairman thus calls on the Imo State Government led by Sen Hope Uzodimma to assign Amuneke to a particular duty post if the 1988 CAF Champions League silver medalist must be restored to winning ways. The press statement read; “Imo SWAN, therefore, recommends that Amuneke be assigned a clearly defined role, either as General Manager overseeing the club’s administration or as Technical Adviser focusing solely on football matters, to ensure efficiency and better results”.
For Heartland that also struck silver in the 1982 WAFU Cup competition to effectively function and compete favourably at the elite football league once again, Imo SWAN proferred ideas as follows; “Furthermore, the association recommends an overhaul of the backroom staff involved in the running of the club’s affairs and suggests that competent professionals be engaged to reposition the club”.
It added, “However, the body emphasizes that the current state of the five-time former Nigerian champions is unacceptable and urges immediate reforms to align the club with global best practices, restore pride in the team, and return it to its rightful place in Nigerian football”.
