Heartland FC's players, owner, stadium, coach, trophies, world rankings

Heartland FC is one of the oldest and most succesful teams in Nigeria. The club has also produced brilliant talents who have starred for the national football team, Super Eagles and top European clubs. Famous Heartland FC's players include Uche Okechukwu, Kanu, Ben Iroha, late Thompson Oliha and winger Friday Elaho. This article will help you understand Heartland FC's history, achievements and much more.

The Nigerian club, famously known as the Hearts or the Spartans, has a long history. It was initially known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale. The team walked away with a series of titles between 1980 to 1990. So, where is Heartland FC located?

Heartland FC's profile summary

• Full name: Heartland Football Club
• Nickname: Soccer Scientists, Spartans, Naze Millionaires, The Hearts
• Founded: 1976
• Based in: Owerri, Imo State
• Owned by: Imo State Government
• Heartland FC's coach: Hassan Abdallah
• League: Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)
• Stadium: Dan Anyiam Stadium
• Stadium capacity: 10,000
• Heartland FC Instagram: @ heartlandfc.ng

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Who is Heartland FC's owner?

The club was founded in 1976 as Spartans FC, owned by the Imo State government. However, it changed its name to Iwuanyanwu Nationale in 1985 after the Imo State government sold it to Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

The change of ownership boosted Iwuanyanwu Nationale financially, allowing the team to compete in several competitions. One of the notable impacts was travelling to Brazil for training and gaining experience.

In 1988, the club played in the African Champions Cup for the first time and reached the final. However, they lost to the Algerian side, Entente Setif 4-1 on aggregate. The Naze Millionaires defeated the Algerians 1-0 in the first leg of the final played in Ibadan but lost 4-0 in the return leg in Constantin.

Domestically, they dominated their rivals by winning the league multiple times. The Imo State Government repurchased the Spartans and renamed it Heartland FC in 2006.

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Tragic air crash

Most football fans will remember the tragic air crash that took the lives of two Spartans players, leaving over 20 injured, including club officials. The team returned from Tunisia following a 3-0 defeat to Esperance in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the African Cup of Champions on 18 September 1994.

On 14 September 2016, the club's team bus also got involved in a road accident on their way to a game in Maiduguri against El-Kanemi Warriors in a league tie. Eight players and two officials were hospitalized following the crash.

Heartland FC's stadium

The state-owned club plays its home matches at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. The stadium, constructed by Vast International Company Limited, is located in Owerri, Imo State. It has a capacity of 10,000 people.

Heartland FC's achievements

The Spartans are among the most succesful teams in Nigeria. The club reached the CAF Champions Cup finals in 1988 but lost to Entente Setif of Algeria 4-1 on aggregate, and in 2009 where they succumbed to Zambia's TP Mazembe on away goal after a 2-2 aggregate. Heartland also got to the semi-final in 1990 and 1991.

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The team featured in the 2011 and 2012 editions of the CAF Confederation Cup but left disappointed after their elimination at the early stages.

Here is a list of Heartland FC's trophies won since its establishment.

• Nigeria Professional Football League (5 times) 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1993
• Federation Cup (twice) 2011, 2012

Heartland FC's squad

Check below the squad list of Heartland FC's players registered in the current 2021/22 season.

Goalkeepers

1. Ikechukwu Ezenwa
2. Chijioke Ejiogu
3. Oluwasegun Fatunwase
4. Olufemi Thomas
5. Emeka Nwabulu
6. Mbaoma Chijioke

Defenders

• Opara Chijoke
• Lengkat Isah
• Esomchi Ekwujuru
• Akanimo Edianobong
• Orji Kalu Okagube
• Francis Benjamin
• Samuel Okon
• Uche Oguchi
• Francis Benjamin
• Jimoh Gbadamosi
• Onyedikachi Bright Uchechukwu

Midfielders

• Nonso Nzediegwu
• Emmanuel Nnamani
• Ikenna Aguzie
• Onyekwere Chimezie
• Aputazie Ugochukwu
• Kenneth Ikwugbado
• Chidiebere Ajoku
• Monday Yakubu

Fowards

• Kingsley Maduforo
• Ezeh Chibuike
• Arinze Okorie
• Chukwudi Nwaodu
• Emmanuel Adachi
• Onuoha Ogbonna
• Olajide Williams
• Victor Makalala

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Who is the coach of Heartland?

The club appointed Hassan Abdallah as head coach in September 2021, on a two-year deal, to replace Fidelis Ilechukwu. Abdallah previously managed Kano Pillars, Gombe United, and Enugu Rangers.

Heartland FC legends

The Naze Millionaires have produced prominent footballers like former Super Eagles captain Uche Okechukwu, Kanu, Ben Iroha, and Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa who also served as Heartland FC's captain.

Other famous figures who played for the club include the late Thompson Oliha, Friday Elaho, Mobi Oparaku, Friday Ekpo, Etim Esin, and Edward Ansah.

Heartland FC players' salary woes

Issues of unpaid salaries in African football has become increasingly common in the continent, with many players protesting, demanding their rights to be paid. In January 2022, Heartland FC's players took to the street asking the club to pay their 11 months arrears of salaries and allowances.

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Former Heartland FC's captain, Julius Ubido, also came out pleading with Heartland FC's management to pay him N7.45m that had accrued from his unpaid three-month salary and sign-on fees. Julius played in the club for 13 years.

Heartland FC's world ranking

The Naze Millionaires are currently struggling in form, languishing at the bottom part of the NPFL league table. The club ranks 1335 in the world and 195 in Africa. In Nigeria, it ranks 25.

Despite the financial challenges in the club, fans will be hoping the team recovers and improve their form. But will Heartland FC's players step up amidst the salary crisis? How will they respond?

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