The Imo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Hon. Dan Ogu has assured the soccer loving people of Imo state that the 3″R prosperity of the State government will return the state owned football team, Heartland to their traditional home ground the, Dan Anyiam stadium Owerri this season.
Hon. Ogu told members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Imo State chapter when the new leadership and members led by Mr. Everest Ezihe paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Owerri .
Fifty percent mobilization fee he said has been paid to the contractors that are handling the renovation of the ten thousand capacity complex.
The commissioner who congratulated Mr. Ezihe on his election as the chairman of the Association revealed that the state government will appoint an experienced Chairman and other management team for Heartland in the next few days.
According to him, the state government led by Senator Hope Uzodiama is putting every machinery in place to clear off all the debt owed the players and former officials of Heartland.
He put the delay in paying the debts on the former management of the team led by Barr. Charles Ezekwem who he said refused to summit the players document since last match as directed by the governor .
He frowned at the fact that most of the players and former officials of the club did not have a working contract ,which he noted was unthinkable and disturbing.
The commissioner also frown on how a member of the former interim management board of the club Mr. Godson Onyemobi transmitted himself from member of the board and became them general manager of the club nothing that it’s the state Governor that appoint a general manager for the team not individuals.
Millions of Naira released to the club ,he noted could not be accounted for .
He promised that the 3″ government of share prosperity led by Governor Hope Uzodiama will also focus on reviving of school sports Heartland Queens and other sports activities in the state.
