The head coach of Heartland football club of Owerri, Christian Obi has revealed the the maiden Naija Super 8 playoffs competition is a massive tournament for the club and it is also an opportunity to showcase the talents the club has at its disposal. The manager said this while speaking to the media ahead of the tournament recently.
Heartland finished top of their Nigeria National League Southeast division with 22 points after 10 games.
Christian Obi recalled how he was able to assemble new players who are hungry to play after more than a handful of first team players left following the club’s relegation from the Nigeria Professional Football league two seasons ago.
“I feel very good to be going to the Naija Super 8. Number one, it’s a platform to showcase the talents I have in my team and again it’s another opportunity for the players to also have encounters with more experienced players and officials and it’s a plus to us as a team in the sense that it also will prepare us for next season.
“If by his grace we scale through the play-offs, it is another opportunity to make some money and it’s an exposure to us both the players and the officials.”
“I had to start from scratch, I organised matches among the teams in Imo State, they played against themselves so I had the opportunity of watching them and picking from the lot.
“It was those people I picked that I started grooming without the help of anybody. I groomed them till the government was able to come in and the seed I sowed in them is what we are seeing today.
“Thank God the players I picked were players that are hungry to play football. They saw an opportunity to showcase their skills and they capitalized on it and that’s what we’re seeing today, that is the secret of the unbeaten run. The players within a short time were able to master themselves and we’re playing,”
Heartland will face defending Champions of the Nigeria Professional League, Enyimba at the at the Eket Township Stadium on June 24.
The winner of the tie will play in the main Naija Super 8 tournament which will be held at Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, from July 7-16.