Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has appointed renowned football administrator Emmanuel Amuneke as the new Technical Manager of Heartland Football Club in a move aimed at revitalizing the team.
According to The PUNCH, the unveiling ceremony took place on Monday, August 5, 2024, at the New Executive Council Chambers in Government House, Owerri.
In a statement released by Oguwike Nwachuku, the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the governor, Uzodimma highlighted the urgent need to reposition the club for a successful future.
He recalled that when he assumed office in 2020, the club was relegated, and he had worked diligently to restore it to the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Reflecting on recent challenges, Uzodimma noted, “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 strong confidence in Amuneke’s capabilities, praising him as one of Nigeria’s top experts in football management and technical administration.
Setting ambitious goals for the new technical team, he stated, “The target of the technical team is that they must win the Premiership and go for Continental competition.”
To ensure Amuneke’s success, Uzodimma committed to providing all necessary resources and establishing a direct communication line between the management team and his office, thus avoiding unnecessary bureaucratic delays.
Accepting the role, Amuneke expressed gratitude to the governor and the people of Imo State for the opportunity.
He described the role as a homecoming and vowed to do his utmost to meet the ambitious targets.
Emphasizing the collaborative effort required, Amuneke stated, “The people deserve to have happiness and joy on their faces always.”
The event was attended by all members of the Imo Executive Council, as well as management and staff from the State’s Ministry of Sports Development.
