Emmanuel Amuneke has disclosed that fans and supporters of Heartland have the right to feel unhappy when their team could not make them happy with wins in two home matches, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

The 1994 AFCON winner and 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winning coach with the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, spoke after Heartland came from behind to draw 1-1 with Bayelsa United in Sunday night's NPFL matchday 28 feisty game at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

"Of course, nobody would be happy. You see, one thing in a game and mostly when you look at Nigerian League, at your home, you want to win. So, they have their right not to be happy.

"And if anybody says otherwise, I think that person is not being fair to them. Our fans have been very, very supportive. They've been coming out here to cheer the team.
"So, it remains for the players to stand up to the occasion, deliver and make the fans happy".

The Naze Millionaires were extra lavishly wasteful in the crucial tie and were punished by the Ladan Bosso side who capitalised on a long throw early in the second half to go in front.

Amuneke, who is the Technical Manager of Heartland FC, said wasting such opportunities can sometimes affect players confidence adding that he would, as a coach, ensure that he worked on that so that it doesn't affect the players confidence.
 
Amuneke's worries was not about the quality of play as his side dominated the game from start to finish but the front men failed short of getting the cutting edge in the final third in the near 'one-sided' clash as the big clash against leaders, Remo Stars at Ikenne, and the Oriental Derby versus Abia Warriors in Owerri beckons.

"I think this is the second game that we've drawn at our home and I think that probably, a little bit of complacency, kind of, must have gotten into the players", Amuneke, a former Zanaco of Zambia coach said after the game.

"But we need to look at things from a general perspective and look at how we can motivate the players. It's not about criticising. Sometimes you have to criticise in a positive way. But what matters is how we could be able to build that confidence back into the players because if you're an attacker and you are used to scoring and suddenly you've chances and you didn't convert them, your confidence begins to diminish.

"But we have to find a way to continue to inspire the players and get them to believe in themselves".

Reflecting on the game against Bayelsa United, Amuneke lamented that he was more pained and worried that his players threw away countless number of scoring chances during the game.

"We went into the game like every other game that we've played. Our objective was to win. If you look at the number of chances we created in the game as a team and still, we found it very difficult to convert them. That's what's giving me a little bit of concern.

"If you look at the game objectively, you will find out that we controlled and dominated the game from start to finish so much so that you could count how many times Bayelsa United posed a threat to our goalkeeper.

"But, you know, this is football. When you don't get it right, it looks like all your efforts is nothing. But like I said earlier, I'm worried about that because, in our previous game in Lagos, we created a whole lot of chances but we're not even able to convert one. And today again, it has happened again.

"Same was the case against El-Kanemi Warriors. So, I think I need to go back, as a coach, and that's why I'm a coach, to look at that area; what can we do and how can we do it. This is because you can only win a game if and when you can score a goal and defend it very well till the end.

"But unfortunately we're wasting a lot of chances that you worked hard to create. We must also recognise the quality and strenght of Bayelsa United that we played against. They came with a plan and they stuck with their plan and its kudos to them".

Influential midfielder, Emmanuel Charles was subbed in the game when he fell down and called for his substitution.

Amuneke feels that though he has not received report from the medics on Charles injury situation, he none the less feared that 'for Charles to demand for substitution means that the injury must have been serious'.

"I've not gotten a report on the state of his injury but for Emmanuel Charles to fall down and demand that he should be substituted, I think it may be something serious.

"But of course, the guy that came in to Replace him was also exceptional. He was able to do the job but I'll get the report (on Emmanuel Charles injury) to see the level of the injury and then know the kind of treatment he requires so as to ensure that he recovers as quick as possible".