The announcement of Fidelis Ilechukwu as coach of the “Naze Millionaires”, Heartland FC, on the 2nd of August, 2019, brought a lot of mixed reactions from football fans in Lagos as the coach sought a new adventure.
Fidelis was a coach of the Olukoya Boys for 13years before moving to the Owerri based side where things haven’t been rosy both on and off the pitch.
Some time last year, issues of owed salaries and allowances were raised and till now such issues still exist as coach Fidelis has cried out to the Governor of the state, stating the challenges he and the players have faced recently.
“We don’t have accommodation, for the past one year, they haven’t paid for my accommodation, sometimes we come back from training and we stay outside because there is no accommodation for players,” he said
“We also got FIFA ban for terminating contracts unlawfully and the players we are supposed to sign have joined other teams. We just get few players from the grassroots because we can’t register new ones,” the coach added.
Speaking as regards his salary being owed, Fidelis said, “they are owing me five months salary and sign on fee of 1.5 million naira. If I have my way, I will just step aside from the team and I believe it is time to talk and inform our fans what we are passing through.”
“This team didn’t have pre season, no camping and how can we know the players?, I’ve been begging but no one came to our rescue” he said in post match conference.
Heartland are currently swimming in relegation waters in the NPFL with 7pts from 8 games so far this season, leaving them in 18ty position on the log. Heartland have lost 5, drawn one and won 2 of their 8 games this season.
