Heartland F.C.

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Heartland FC
Heartland F.C. logo
Full nameHeartland Football Club
Nickname(s)Soccer Scientists, Spartans, Naze Millionaires, The Hearts
Founded1976; 46 years ago (1976)
GroundDan Anyiam Stadium
Owerri,
Okigwe
Capacity10,000
ChairmanCharles Ezekwem[1]
Manager
LeagueNigeria Professional Football League
2020–21Nigeria Professional Football League, 13th of 20

Heartland Football Club founded as Spartans F.C., later known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale from 1985 to 2006[2] is a Nigerian football club based in Owerri. The team play their home games at Dan Anyiam Stadium (but currently use the new as their temporary home ground pending renovations at the Dan Anyiam Stadium). Their local rivals are Enyimba FC and Enugu Rangers. They reached the finals of the 1988 African Cup of Champions Clubs and 2009 CAF Champions League, the premier African continental club tournament, and won four straight Nigerian league titles from 1987 to 1990.[3]

Until their 18th place showing and relegation in 2016, they were one of two teams in the top flight that had never been relegated. In October 2017, Heartland won the Nigeria National League Southern Conference to gain promotion back up to the top flight.[4]

History[]

The club were founded as Spartans FC in 1976.[5] Their first international match was a friendly played against Ararat Yerevan of the USSR which Spartans won 2–0 at the Township Stadium, Tetlow Road, Owerri, in August 1976.[6] Spartans FC were supported by the Imo State government, which itself had been founded in 1976, and had the support of the state administration, including the state military.[7] Spartans FC played matches at the Old Owerri Stadium.[7]

Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC (1985–2006)[]

Spartans FC were renamed Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC in 1985 following a successful change of ownership from Imo State Government to chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. Iwuanyanwu Nationale embarked on a 3-week training tour of Brazil in January 1986. That season, Nationale finished runner-up of the Nigerian top league.

The late 1980s were the most successful time in the club's history, when they won four straight championships from 1987 to 1990. During this time, the club featured several Nigerian national team players, such as Thompson Oliha, Benedict Iroha, and Uche Okechukwu.[8]

Iwuanyanwu Nationale finally emerged as League winners in 1987 ahead of Leventis United on goal difference, the first of four straight championships. The league win earned them the right to represent Nigeria in CAF Champions Cup. In 1988, Iwuanyanwu Nationale repeated as League champions and completed the double as they won the Nigerian FA Cup for the first time, beating Flash Flamingoes of Benin 3–0 in the final. The club also reached CAF Champions Cup final, winning 1–0 in first leg tie in Ibadan, losing 4–0 in Constantine, Algeria in return leg versus Entente Setif.[9]

In 1989, the Iwuanyanwu retained the league title but lost the FA Cup final 0–1 to BCC Lions.[10] They played Stationery Stores of Lagos in Lagos in the first ever game of the newly professional Nigerian league and won 2–1, with Ben Iroha scoring the first goal.[11] Nationale emerged as the first pro league winners in Nigeria.

The club's fortunes finally changed for the worse in 1991, when Nationale lost the league title to Julius Berger. The club also crashed out of CAF Champions Cup in the semifinals, losing to Nakivubo of Uganda 4–3 on aggregate, including a 1–1 draw at home where a win would have qualified them for the final.[12]

Nationale won the league title again in 1993 following a 2–0 away victory over El-Kanemi Warriors in last league fixture to edge out Bendel Insurance to the title race. The 1993 team featured a young Nwankwo Kanu, who at the age of 16 scored 15 goals in 25 matches. Kanu would move on to Ajax after the 1993 season.[13]

Tragedy struck Heartland in the champions league in 1994. Nationale reached the Champions Cup quarter-final, losing 3–0 to Espérance de Tunis of Tunisia in first leg tie, 18 September, in Algeria. Iwuanyanwu chartered an Oriental Airlines plane to fly home from Tunis the night of the game, but upon landing at Tamanrasset in southern Algeria, the plane hit a runway lamp and a fire truck and crashed.[14] Two players, defender Aimola Omale and goalkeeper Uche Ikeogu, lost their lives in the accident, along with the pilots and a flight attendant. According to striker Tony Nwaigwe, the plane broke into three pieces on landing.[15]

Due to the crash, the CAF shifted the return leg match in Owerri from 3 to 10 October. Nationale would draw the return match 1–1, failing to advance in the competition.[16]

The 1995 season, the first after the plane crash, Iwuanyanwu faced more adversity in the Nigerian domestic league. Led by manager Uche Ejimofor, Iwuanyanwu managed to survive a relegation battle by only a couple games, which included a match which was replayed two times against 1994 champions BCC Lions, finally ending in a 1–1 draw.[16]

1999 saw Iwuanyanwu win the league but they ended up losing the title to Lobi Stars of Makurdi in the inaugural Super League play-off. They also finished runners up in the Nigerian F.A. Cup to Plateau United after breaking the hearts of city neighbors FC Arugo in the semifinals with a 2–1 victory. Arugo had just been set up that in 1999 by former Iwuanyanwu manager Uche Ejimofor.[17]

In 2000, Iwuanyanwu player Gabriel Anats died during the season from a tetanus infection.[18]

In 2005, Iwuanyanwu finished third in Premier League and also in the Coca-Cola FA Cup with coach Stanley Eguma in charge.

Heartland FC[]

On 7 February 2006, the Imo State Government re-acquired ownership of the club from chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and renamed it Heartland FC.[6]

Heartland finished second in the 2008 Premier League by one point to Kano Pillars, earning a Champions League slot in 2009. Heartland would go on to make the finals of the 2009 CAF Champions League, losing to away goals to TP Mazembe after tying 2–2 on aggregate. Heartland won the first leg at home 2–1 but an own goal in the 73rd minute in the return leg in Lubumbashi meant the Nigerian side finished as runners-up.[19]

After the club's failure to win the Champions League, they brought in Christian Chukwu as a technical consultant and Fan Ndubuoke as general manager.[20] In 2011, the club won the Federation Cup, its first silverware since its last league win in 1993. Heartland defeated highly fancied Enyimba 1–0 thanks to a 40th-minute goal by their captain, .[21] Randsom Madu, a player on the 1993 cup winning team, was on the technical staff, and could celebrate winning as both a player and a coach.[20] Heartland could not replicate their success in the league, finishing mid-table.

Heartland defended its cup win in 2012 by defeating Lobi Stars 2–1 in the finals held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. In 2013, Heartland were eliminated from the Confederations Cup due to a walkover against US Bitam of Gabon. Heartland won the first leg 2–1 in Owerri, but were delayed leaving Nigeria due to visa and travel issues, and did not make it to Gabon in time for the match. Their protest was unsuccessful, and Bitam advanced in the competition.[22]

The club was relegated for the first time in 2016.

Relegation To NNL[]

Ending 18th in the 2016 Nigeria Professional Football League ensured the club went on relegation for the first time since its 40-year existence. On the final day of the season, Heartland abandoned their game against Plateau United in the 75th minute after a disallowed goal which was to give them a 2–1 lead. Heartland was eventually penalized by the League Management for abandoning their game and 3 points and 3 goals was awarded to Plateau United. Heartland were also levied a fine of N3 million.[23] The result of this meant that MFM FC would remain in the league at Heartland's expense.

They only spent a year at the second level, winning the Southern division with a game to spare, ending on 61 points and 18 wins, 7 draws and 7 losses.[24]

Heartland hired former MFM FC coach Fidelis Ilechukwu as manager in August 2019.[25]

Achievements[]

  • Nigerian Premier League: 5
1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993.
  • Nigerian FA Cup: 3
1988, 2011, 2012.
  • Nigerian Super Cup: 2
2011, 2012.

Performance in CAF competitions[]

Results in CAF competitions[]

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1990 African Cup of Champions Clubs First Round Senegal ASC Diaraf 3–0 0–1 3–1
Second Round Ivory Coast Africa Sports 3–2 1–1 4–3
Quarter-finals Tunisia Espérance 2–1 1–1 3–2
Semi-finals Zambia Nkana Red Devils 0–1 0–1 0–2
1991 African Cup of Champions Clubs First Round Sierra Leone Old Edwardians 3–0 0–2 3–2
Second Round Gabon JAC Port-Gentil 5–0 2–1 7–1
Quarter-finals Ivory Coast ASEC Mimosas 3–0 0–3 3–3 (6-5p)
Semi-finals Uganda SC Villa 1–1 2–3 3–4
1994 African Cup of Champions Clubs First Round Niger Zumunta AC 3–0 3–1 6–1
Second Round Cameroon RC Bafoussam 1–2 3–2 4–4(a)
Quarter-finals Tunisia Espérance de Tunis 0–3 1–1 1–4
2000 CAF Cup First Round Gabon Mbilinga FC 3–0 2–2 5–2
Second Round Egypt Awassa City F.C. 2–1 1–1 3–2
Playoff Round Zambia Nchanga Rangers 2–0 0–1 2–1
Semifinals Algeria JS Kabylie 1–1 0–1 1–2
2006 CAF Confederation Cup First Round Ivory Coast JC Abidjan 2–0 0–0 2–0
Second Round Egypt Haras El Hodood 3–2 0–0 3–2
Playoff Round Equatorial Guinea Renacimiento FC 4–0 0–5 4–5
2009 CAF Champions League First Round Morocco FAR Rabat 3–1 1–1 4–2
Second Round Cameroon Coton Sport FC 2–1 1–1 3–2
Group Stage Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe 2–0 0–2 –
Zimbabwe Monomotapa United 3–1 1–2 –
Tunisia Étoile du Sahel 3–0 0–0 –
Semifinals Nigeria Kano Pillars 4–0 1–0 5–0
Final Democratic Republic of the Congo TP Mazembe 2–1 0–1 2–2(a)
2010 CAF Champions League First Round Cameroon Tiko United 1–1 2–2 3–3(a)
Second Round South Africa Supersport United 3–1 1–1 4–2
Group Stage Egypt Al Ahly SC 1–1 1–2 –
Egypt Ismaily 2–1 0–1 –
Algeria JS Kabylie 1–1 0–1 –
2012 CAF Confederation Cup First Round Cameroon Unisport Bafang 0–0 2–1 2–1
Second Round Republic of the Congo AC Léopards 3–2 1–2 4–4(a)
2013 CAF Confederation Cup First Round Gabon US Bitam 2–1 – w/o[a]
  1. ^
    US Bitam advanced to the second round after Heartland arrived late for the second leg, as per ruling made by the CAF.

Current squad[]

As of 30 December 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Nigeria NGA Chijioke Ejiogu
3 Nigeria NGA Benjamin Francis
4 Nigeria NGA Jimoh Gbadamosi
6 Nigeria NGA Pascal Eze
7 Nigeria NGA Ama Chibundu
8 Nigeria NGA Samuel Nnoshiri
9 Nigeria NGA Ogbonna Onuoha
10 FW Nigeria NGA Nnamani Emmanuel
12 FW Ivory Coast CIV Seka Pascal
13 GK Nigeria NGA Ikechukwu Ezenwa
14 Nigeria NGA Oguchi Uche
15 DF Nigeria NGA Chimezie Onyekwere
16 FW Nigeria NGA Bright Onyedikachi
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF Nigeria NGA Chizoba Amaefule
19 Nigeria NGA Chijioke Akuneto
20 MF Nigeria NGA Chidera Ezeh
21 MF Nigeria NGA Ayo Adetola
22 Nigeria NGA Ezeh Chibuike
25 Nigeria NGA Kenneth Ukwugbado
26 Nigeria NGA Ikenna Cooper
27 DF Nigeria NGA Chidiebere Ajoku
29 DF Nigeria NGA Udochukwu Anumudu
30 Nigeria NGA Issah Lankat
31 Nigeria NGA Kelechi Chimezie
34 Nigeria NGA Austin Opara
35 Nigeria NGA Shedrack Oghali

Former coaches[]

References[]

  1. ^ "The Authority News". authorityngr.com. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  2. ^ "AfricanFootball - Heartland FC". African Football. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Heartland F.C." e.allmixo.com. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Jubilation as promoted Heartland arrive Owerri". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  5. ^ "AfricanFootball – Heartland FC". African Football.
  6. ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 May 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ a b "The gradual demise of Heartland FC?". Imo Trumpeta. 18 April 2013.
  8. ^ Noah, Oluwasegun (30 June 2013). "Thompson Oliha is dead". The Eagle Online.
  9. ^ "Untold story of Iwuanyanwu Nationale 1994 Plane Crash | The Nation". Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  10. ^ "NFF topshots recall FA Cup sweet memories". 23 September 2011.
  11. ^ Solaja, Kunle (12 May 2018). "NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE CLOCKS 28". Sports Village Square.
  12. ^ Obasi, Emeka (7 September 2018). "Sports Flakes: Ghanaian Goalies in Naija".
  13. ^ Horsfield, Stuart (22 August 2017). "Nwankwo Kanu and the languid brilliance of Nigeria's most celebrated footballer". These Football Times.
  14. ^ "NIGERIAN TEAM AMONG VICTIMS OF PLANE CRASH". Deseret News, Associated Press. 19 September 1994.
  15. ^ "How I survived '94 Iwuanyanwu Nationale plane crash — Nwaigwe". Best Naira News. 20 July 2014.
  16. ^ a b c Junior, Buchi (19 May 2018). "Times and tides of Uche Ejimofor". Vanguard NGR.
  17. ^ a b "Nigeria: FA Cup Unique to FC Arugo, Says Ejimofor". 28 October 2006.
  18. ^ Oyedele, Tunde (22 July 2000). "Nigeria: Pepsi Pro-League Review 2000 Season: Hooliganism, Blunders And Deaths".
  19. ^ "Mazembe win African Champs League". CNN.com. 7 November 2009.
  20. ^ a b "FA Cup: Hearty celebrations as Heartland reign". Vanguard Nigeria. 26 September 2011.
  21. ^ "Heartland Win Nigeria's Fed Cup". PM News Nigeria. 25 September 2011.
  22. ^ "Nigeria's Heartland to appeal against Confed Cup walkover". BBC Sport. 8 April 2013.
  23. ^ Prince, Toby (7 October 2016). "Heartland FC officially relegated from NPFL". qed.ng.
  24. ^ "Heartland Beat FirstBank, Gain Promotion To NPFL". 11 October 2017.
  25. ^ Chukwu, Chibuike (5 August 2019). "Heartland To Unveil Ilechukwu As New Manager Today".
  26. ^ Ayomide, Akinshilo. "Heartland FC manager quits post".
  27. ^ "Heartland Sack Coach Madu Over Poor Results". hotsportstv.com. 23 March 2018.

External links[]

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