Emordi Vows To Beat Heartland

Chief Coach of Enyimba International of Aba, Okey Emordi, has declared that their opponents in Sunday’s Federation Cup final, Heartland Football Club of Owerri, should prepare for war.

The Nigeria Premier League defending champions, Enyimba, had confirmed their desire to win the season’s double with a victory over Ocean Boys of Bayelsa at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on 4 September to set up a final clash with their arch rivals, Heartland at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Emordi said: “One thing I can promise our numerous fans in Lagos and other part of the country is that the final match against Heartland will be explosive and I see us coming out victorious after the match.”

The one time U-23 Eagles handler said his players are determined as ever to win double trophy this season after making it into the semi final of the CAF Champions League, adding that Heartland won’t be a stumbling block to their Federation Cup title’s ambition when they slug it out on Sunday.

“We intend to make a statement that we are still the undisputed champions of this country and besides my players are hungry for a double this season. If they (Heartland) think they will cut short that dream they should be ready for a real war on the pitch.

“I have no doubt they too will prepare to win the trophy having lost out on all other fronts, sentiment apart, we also have a lot at stake hence our resolve to win the match at all costs,” he said.

Reflecting on the significance of the Federation Cup trophy to his team, Emordi who led Enyimba to CAF Champions League title in 2004 said: “Our priority is to win all the competitions we play this season with no one more important than the other. The Federation Cup is one of them and we cannot afford to let the opportunity slip by especially now that we are so close to winning the trophy.”

The Enyimba/Heartland match has been fixed for 4p.m. on Sunday, while the third place match between Bayelsa United and Ocean Boys will hold 2p.m. A novelty match between Nigeria Football Federation,NFF, and Nigeria Premier League,NPL, will serve as the curtain raiser.

—Bamidele Olowosagba