The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria(SWAN), Imo State Chapter has hailed the bold move of Governor Hope Uzodinma in appointing an interim Management Committee for Heartland FC and thus brought to a halt the lingering leadership crisis in the club.
It’s pertinent to recall that Heartland FC have been in the news for the wrong reasons lately with the tussle over the identity of who leads the club, thus threatening the existence of the club that had once brought laurels, honour, and pride to the state in the past right from when it was formed as Spartans FC before the change in nomenclatures to Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC and Heartland FC.
This prompted members of the State SWAN as critical stakeholders to issue a press statement alerting Gov Hope Uzodimma on the dangers, informing him of the need to immediately intervene, resolve the crisis and pronounce the status of the club’s Management and Board.
To further demonstrate their crusade to save the state darling club from extinction as LMC and NFF axes were already dangling on the club, Imo SWAN followed up their advise to the Governor with courtesy visits to relevant government officials, sports administrators, sports philanthropists, and some stakeholders in the state on the bold need for their interventions.
We are pleased that Senator Uzodimma as a listening Governor, a few days ago responded to our clarion call by the appointment and inauguration of a seven(7) man Interim Management Board for the revered Naze Millionaires with Barr. Charles “Babatunde” Ezekwem (Ikemba Okigwe) as Chairman and Mr. Ifeanyi Chukwudi as the General Manager.
Other members of the management committee include; Sir Emma Ochiagha, Amb. Prince Elias Ogbonna, Chief Anozie Nzewihe, Chief Henry Nwogu, and Chief Riverjude Duruoma (Mmiri Motors).
SWAN Imo in a press statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Everest Ezihe and Secretary, Tunde Liadi enjoined the newly formed Heartland Interim Management Board to get to work immediately and strive to comply with the directives of the Imo Government to revamp the club and make it the envy of others in the country just like it was in the recent past.
The Imo sports Journalists passionately advise the new Management team on the need to jettison selfishness, wranglings, bickering, and leadership conflicts which they observed may rock the boat.
They must imbibe the spirit of patriotism, brotherly love, and enthrone unity of purpose as strategic management tools for them to achieve the set objectives of the “Shared Prosperity” and “3R” administrative mantra of the State Government.
It’s important to remind them that Imolites and Nigerians who love the club are not prepared to take any excuse for failure just as the Sports Journalists have assured them of our support, while our watchdog role remains the tenets of our profession.
We further appeal to the State Government on the need to expedite actions towards the payment of the backlogs of debts owed the players and its officials so as to enable the new Management Committee to take off seamlessly.
More so, paying the debts owed the team and also ensuring that the club meets up with the club licensing requirements should be given utmost priority as the clock ticks away towards the return of contact sports and the start of the Nigeria Professional Football League thereafter.
SWAN Imo equally admonishes the Imo State Government to ensure that each member of the Heartland FC Management Board has terms of reference to work with so that there won’t be a need for friction (s) often caused by the overlapping of roles.
