Auta Cleared For Heartland

Former Enyimba winger, Phillip Auta, is set to make his debut for CAF Confederation Cup campaigners, Heartland.

SuperSport.com learnt that the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, cleared him to continue his football career in Owerri since the Aba side failed to reach a compromise with their eastern rivals.

It is not the first time that the player will be involved in a club versus club tussle as an Enyimba player.

Last term, he headed for Kwara United, but Enyimba dragged the Ilorin side to the NFF court and succeeded in bringing him back to Aba.

“I’m happy that the NFF has cleared me to play for Heartland. It’s been difficult since I didn’t play any match during the first round. I’m working hard to make my Heartland debut in the second round of the league,” Auta told SuperSport.com

Speaking on Heartland’s qualification for the next round of the CAF Confederation Cup, Auta said: “I cheered my teammates during the last match. But, my ambition is to contribute to the success of Heartland in the competition.”

Although, Enyimba gaffer, Austin Eguavoen is unhappy with Auta’s exit, he told SuperSport.com that the winger has the right to decide his next destination.

“Auta was in my squad when Enyimba won the Federation Cup in 2009. I would have loved to keep him, but he wants to go to Heartland. You can’t stop a player who wants to leave,” Eguavoen told SuperSport.com.

Auta brings valuable experience in the CAF Confederation Cup (Wikki 2008 and Enyimba 2009) as well as the CAF Champions League (Enyimba 2011), which makes him the only outfield player to have played in both competitions at Heartland.