BY SAB OSUJI

Emmanuel Amuneke, Technical Manager of Heartland FC, Wednesday unveiled five FIFA U17 World Cup winners alongside 25 others as he looks forward to Sunday's 2024/2025 NPFL opening fixture Oriental Derby clash against rivals, Enyimba FC, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Chukwudi Agor was part of the U17 Golden Eaglets squad that won the U17 FIFA World Cup in Chile with Amuneke in charge.

Agor's teammates at the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup Championship in Chile that have now re-united at Heartland include Ejike Ikwu who last season plied his trade with NPFL title winners, Rangers, Chisom Chiaha, Ebuka Nwokocha and Udochukwu Anumudu.

The players were also part of Nigeria's U20 Flying Eagles squad that unfortunately did not qualify for the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup finals.

They were part of the 30 players that were unveiled formally for the 2024/2025 season to the public at Dan Anyiam,Stadium, Owerri.

The colourful ceremony held Wednesday evening at renovated Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri attracted football fans, enthusiasts, ex-footballers, top government officials and residents of the state who were on ground to welcome the new players.

Technical Manager of Heartland FC, Emmanuel Amuneke who presented the new team, gave names of the other new players as Elvis Ori (Bayelsa United), Kelvin Ogunga (Bayelsa United), Louis Umoh Anthony (Heartland Feeders), Alex Godwin (Niger Tornadoes), Julius Namitanie (Giant Brillars), Offor Emmanuel Chibueze (Giant Brillars) and Adoh Chuks Frank (De First Atlanta FA).

Others include; Olanrewaju Molade (Giant Brillars), Osinachi Wilson (Eagle Eye), Nnaemeka Christian Nkwo (Giant Brillars), Ezra David (Superstars FA), Uchenna David (Foster FA) Bobo Chubuike (Dynamic Shuttle), Onuwa Temple Chigozirim (Er7), Chikamso Obasi (De Gideons FA),
Nkemakolam Chigozie Godwin (Umuakuma FA),
Chukwuma Chinedu (Taiye Academy).

Also in the list are Kelvin Onah (Legacy Stars), 
Samuel Wisdom (Giant Brillars), Emmanuel Charles (Rangers International FC), Joshua Odo (Rangers International FC), Suraju Lawal (Giant Brillars), Chukwuma Agoha (Brighter Tomorrow FC), Obinna Okere (Brighter Tomorrow), Benjamin Victor (Brighter Tomorrow) and Chukwuma Agor (Brighter Tomorrow).

Amuneke in his brief remark, expressed confidence in the new players pointing out that they are young, fit, energetic and a product of prudent and strenuous screening process with the vision of restoring the glory of the state-owned team.

Performing the unveiling ceremony, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State disclosed that hiring of the new players was necessitated by the commitment of his administration to reposition Heartland FC to return to the winning ways again.
Uzodimma who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, recalled with dismay that the state club had not won the national premier league for many years but declared that the new team has come to change the ugly narrative.

His words, “For years the team has not carried the NPFL Cup, but will do it this coming season. We are ready to do everything necessary to support Heartland to lift the trophy.
“The team is ready with the crop of new young players and experienced technical team led by the Technical Adviser/Manager.”

Highlight of the unveiling ceremony was a novelty match between Heartland new players and Kun Khalifa FC which the Naze Millionaires won and went home with the trophy of the maiden Dan Anyiam Cup.
Earlier in the day, a minute silence was observed in honour of late Coach Christian Obi, of Heartland who died in a ghastly auto crash a fortnight ago.

The governor’s representative, Barr. Anyaehie, was accompanied by the Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu and Imo State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha.