Heartland of Owerri Technical Adviser, Kennedy Boboye, says Wednesday's 1-0 win against Insurance marks the start of the task of pulling the Naze Millionaires off the jaws of relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Austin Osayande scored just nine minutes after the restart as Heartland ended their 11-game Winless run in the 2023/2024 domestic top flight.

It was also Manager Boboye's third game in charge since arriving the former five time champions fold on rescue mission.

The introduction of Onyekachi Okafor, Christian Weli and Ifeanyi Anyanwu in place of Kingsley Arum, Bassey Ezekiel and George Jenom in the 66th minute helped to strengthen the midfield area with Okafor a long ranger in attack. 

With the victory, Heartland FC left the bottom spot they previously occupied to move to the 19th spot with 10 points as they extended their unbeaten streak against Bendel Insurance to five games. 

After the final whistle, Boboye was full of praises to his players for playing to instructions and also ensuring they kept another clean sheet on their way to clinching their first league win of the season.

He said the task of taking the Owerri side out of the drop zone had just begun and that they would go to Gombe ahead of the weekend game with Gombe United brimming with confidence that they could surprise their hosts with the game to be played under closed doors. 

"I must first of all thank and congratulate the players for the first win of the season. They all fought as a team to get the desired result against Bendel Insurance," Boboye said.

"With this win, we shall go to Gombe with the confidence that we can get a good result. Heartland is still work in progress and we shall continue working until we are able to get the team we desired."