A widely reported return for Heartland FC of Owerri to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), after their supposed purchase of a slot owned by Beyond Limits FA of Ikenne, might not be true after all.
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This is according to the chairman of Imo State Football Association, Barrister Ifeanyi Dike, who disclosed in an exclusive interview with sports247.ng that talks are still ongoing in that regard.
Dike confirmed that efforts have been made to help Heartland buy over the NPFL spot that was recently won by Beyond Limits, when they won the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super-6 in Enugu, but stressed that a deal is yet to be sealed.
The Imo FA boss equally acknowledged that he read media reports which stated that The Naze Millionaires are back in the NPFL after a N350m acquisition agreement with the new comers from Ikenne, but he described it as a rumour.
Dike told sports247.ng on Friday night via telephone: “Actually, it’s the same way we have seen the story for over two days now; but the truth is that we have not got to a conclusion.
“Talks are on and advanced, but we are at about 80% and yet to seal a deal. We are still talking, though.”
Independent checks by sports247.ng revealed further that moves began by the Imo State-owned club to quickly buy over the spot of Beyond Limits just a day after both sides got contrasting results at the end of the season.
While there was another relegation from the NPFL for Heartland, whose former financier, Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, died on Thursday at the age of 82, Beyond Limits gained promotion from the NNL.
However, many eyebrows were immediately raised about the eligibility of Beyond Limits to compete in the NPFL, as their major shareholder, Honourable Kunle Soname, is also the owner of this season’s runners-up, Remo Stars of Ikenne.
Although media personalities and technocrats close to both Ikenne-based teams quickly went to town to rebuff reports about Soname’s ownership of both clubs, speculation about Heartland buying over Beyond Limits’ slot has refused to fade away.
The saga got to a head at the start of the week, when a section of the online media declared that Heartland will compete in the NPFL this season, after sealing a N350m agreement with Beyond Limits and that former Super Eagles’ winger, Emmanuel Amuneke will be their coach.
The veracity of that story, though, has been cast in doubt, with the Imo State FA top shot insisting that a climax is yet to be reached in take over talks between officials of both clubs.
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