Heartland Rap Rochas

Heartland FC of Owerri have expressed deep appreciation to the Imo State governor-elect, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, for paying them an unscheduled solidarity visit during their Premier League game against Warri Wolves FC on Sunday.

General Manger of the Owerri-based outfit, Chief Fan Ndubuoke, said in a statement in Owerri, that with that visit,the governor-elect has demonstrated that sports, especially football, will be one of the priority projects under his administration.

Ndubuoke, who was a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said by his singular action, Okorocha has shown that he is a football lover and that the entire Heartland FC family is happy to have him as their next governor.

“On behalf of the entire team, I wish to express deep appreciation to His Excellency, the Governor-elect, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, for deeming it fit to identify with the club at this early stage of his on-coming administration and for the moral encouragement his visit brought to us during that encounter.  I have no doubt that he is a genuine football lover and that he would have the development and progress of Heartland FC in his programme,” he said.

The general manager said it was unfortunate that Heartland FC drew the match which Owelle Rochas watched and to encourage his state’s team when the intention of everyone in the club was to win the game as a mark of honour and a welcome present for him, adding, “I want to apologise for our inability to secure an outright win against our opponents which would have been a befitting welcome present to the governor-elect. Nevertheless, his visit and especially his decision to meet and talk with the players, coaches and officials, both before and at half time, has lifted our morale and confidence, so we must strive harder in our quest to bring honour and glory to Imo State and Nigeria.”

Ndubuoke said that although the current Heartland FC management team came into office only about six months ago, it was able to identify all the problems it inherited and has already embarked on programmes aimed at restructuring and repositioning the club.