In an effort to revitalize Heartland Football Club, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has appointed renowned football administrator Emmanuel Amuneke as the club’s new Technical Manager.
The unveiling ceremony took place on Monday, August 5, 2024, at the New Executive Council Chambers, Government House Owerri.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the governor, Oguwike Nwachuku, Governor Uzodimma highlighted the importance of repositioning the club for a brighter future.
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He recalled the club’s relegation when he assumed office in 2020 and his subsequent efforts to restore it to the Nigeria Premier Football League.
However, Uzodimma acknowledged recent setbacks, saying, “Recent events show that the Football Club has gone back to the drain again and can only come back to life by reorganising the administrative structure and repositioning the management and technical team of the Club.”
The Governor expressed confidence in Amuneke’s abilities, describing him as one of Nigeria’s finest in football management and technical administration.
He set ambitious goals for the new technical team, stating, “The target of the technical team is that they must win the Premiership and go for Continental competition.”
To support Amuneke’s work, Uzodimma promised to provide the necessary resources and establish a direct line of communication between the management team and his office, bypassing unnecessary bureaucracy.
Accepting the role, Amuneke thanked the governor and the people of Imo State for the opportunity, describing the assignment as a homecoming. He pledged to do his best to achieve the set targets, emphasizing the collective nature of the task, stating, “The people deserve to have happiness and joy on their faces always.”
The unveiling ceremony was attended by members of the Imo Executive Council, as well as management and staff from the State’s Ministry of Sports Development.
