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BY SAB OSUJI

Promise Nwachukwu, General Manager of Heartland FC, a Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, side was at the receiving end of the Naze Millionaires 'heartbreaking' draw versus Katsina United in Sunday's Match Day Four clash at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Nwachukwu turned 48 on Sunday and had expected a birth day gift from his players in the form of an outright victory over the invading Chanji Boys.

Nwachukwu was convinced annexing the maximum points wasn't a case of asking for too much or heaping huge expectation or pressure on his side. After a successful point salvaging trip to Sunshine Stars the week before, the young GM had convincing reasons to be in the party mood.

In his usual cute dressing fashion, Nwachukwu arrived the Dan Anyiam Stadium, venue of the match in confidence mood, hoping the birth day party would start right from the stadium immediately after the final whistle when the Champaign would begin to be popped.

Hope rose high early enough for the materialisation of Nwachukwu's expected big day when his side flew into an early lead just three minutes after kick off with Christian Nnaemeka's throw-in from the far right taking just a slight touch on Katsina Utd goalkeeper and rested ito the bottom corner. The second assistant referee on the far side, convinced it was a goal, made his decour run towards the center.

The center referee almost boxed himself into tight corner by first ruling out the goal before running to his second assistant who convinced neither the ball nor any player broke any known rule before the ball hit the back of the net. He admitted his assistant's explanation and the goal stood. Heartland 1-0 Katsina United!

Signs of Nwachukwu's night of frustration began almost immediately after the goal. Rather than taking full advantage of their early lead, the home side pulled off the throttle pedal and conceded initiative to visitors who appeared obviously fitter, faster and more adventurous despite always enjoying the 'kick and follow' approach.

Coach Christian Obi's charges managed to hang onto their 'thread's' lead going into the break.

The restart saw the visitors in near total control, putting their hosts backline on constant pressure. With superb tactical and substitution strategy, Coach Tony Bulus men showed they were in Owerri for real business. They kept on 'torturing' the Naze Millionaires so much so that  patriotism aside, even the most fanatical began to count on their fingers the moment the dice would turn.

From his seat inside the far corner of the inner perimeter, Nwachukwu sat on edge, forlorn cast, like a three month-old baby whose bean cake had been snatched by a vicious dog. Inside of him, it was prayer time as he managed 'keep hope alive'.

But that amounted to one dragging one's luck too far as bubble burst with 18 minutes left on the clock. In one of their fast breaks, Michael Ibe needed a simple tap to bring his side back on level terms on 72 minutes, pulling a cloud of grave silence on the entire stadium. Heartland 1-1 Katsina United!

The visitors weren't done yet. In fleeing attacks, a decent opportunity to Snatch a shock win in Owerri presented itself but after ghosting two defenders, the lanky forward criminally directed his right footed kick wayward over the crossbar.

Perhaps, the best opportunity of the night fell on a platter for the Arugo Boys on the dot of the four minutes of the added time but the forward unbelievably crashed his effort against the crossbar and out, with the referee sounding his final whistle moments later.

Making his way out of the stadium, Nwachukwu could barely pick his pace and composure. Staring at the milling spectators, but he obviously couldn't see anyone. 

Down the other side, the loyal fans of the club milled around the Technical Adviser, Christian Obi, expressing their frustration over the team's shoddy performance. Three draws so far in the campaign, two at home and one at away, to the home fans, is not the ideal way to mark a return to the elite league after an unbeaten run in the lower league campaign.

It was also a far cry from what was expected from them as birth day present to their young GM, an ex junior international, Promise Nwachukwu.