HEARTLAND coach Emmanuel Amuneke has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to match nine-time champions Enyimba when they face off in their first game of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League season at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Sunday.
Although they were relegated last season, Heartland were reinstated to the topflight by the NPFL board on Tuesday following the disqualification of Beyond Limits Football Academy, who didn’t meet up with the league’s framework on dual ownership.
The Naze Millionaires wrapped up their preparations for the new season on Wednesday by lifting the Dan Anyim Cup in Owerri, beating Kun Khalifat FC 2-1 in the final thanks to goals from Samuel Wisdom and Benjamin Victor.
Amuneke, who was appointed to take charge of the team in August, spoke ahead of their first game of the season.
“We will be ready for Enyimba. You know in football, it’s not something you come out and say what you are going to do or not going to do. We will go back and recover and look at the team.
“This is a team that is a work in progress; a lot of players that were here last season are no longer here; we have new players. So, I am impressed with how they played.
“Nobody was born with experience; they have to get it by consistently doing what they are doing.”
Heartland have also unveiled 30 new players for the new campaign.
Established in 1985 as Spartans FC before being renamed Iwuanyanwu Nationale from 1985 to 2006, Heartland won four straight NPFL titles from 1987 to 1990.
They also reached the finals of the 1988 African Cup of Champions Clubs and the 2009 CAF Champions League.
