By Obaseki Anthony on January 22, 2020

Former Chairman of Heartland FC of Owerri, Goodfaith Chibuzo Etuemena, is poised to return to the club barely eight months after he was removed unceremoniously by the now sacked government of Chief Emeka Ihedioha.

Etuemena, who is also popularly known as ‘Bash’, according to sources in the new Imo State Government led by Senator Hope Uzodinma, has emerged the frontline candidate to head the Naze Millionaires following the dissolution of Heartland FC Interim Management Board headed by Barr. Charles Ezekwem.

The Government had last Friday announced the dissolution of all the boards of ministries, parastatals and agencies under the State Government, which also affected Heartland FC.

Thereafter, Bash was invited to the Government House where the Governor directed him to move in quickly and execute the Heartland FC versus Katsina Utd match billed for the following day in Okigwe.

It was gathered that since there was no money left in the club’s account and also, since the State Government had frozen all the state’s bank accounts, Governor Uzodinma released his own private money to enable Etuemena prosecute the match. Etuemena then called in the club’s accountant, who is the most senior civil servant in Heartland FC, and handed over the money to him.

However, few hours after, Etuemena was said to have started receiving threat messages on his phone from faceless individuals warning him to stay off Heartland FC.

One of the callers who identified himself as Hon. Kingsley and a consultant of one of the leading political parties in Nigeria, warned Etuemena of the consequences if he dared get close to the team.

This informed the decision by Etuemena to attend the match in Okigwe with personal security.

On arrival for the match at Okigwe, the fear was confirmed as some thugs bearing guns and other dangerous weapons accompanied some former members of the dissolved Heartland Interim Management Board to the stadium.

The thugs, who sang praises of their paymasters while the game was on, also warned that Etuemena must not go close to Heartland dressing room during the interval. 

From their manners and utterances it was clear that they would have hurt Etuemena if not for the security around him.

Just before the game ended, one of the security personnel noticed that two of the hoodlums were hanging around the car that brought Etuemena to the stadium where it was parked outside the gate and he went and cleared the area.

Unknown to the security man, the hoodlums had already tampered with the vehicle’s wheels by loosening most of the nuts.

The vehicle was on its way to Owerri when one of the back tyres flew off the body of the car, rolled across to the opposite direction and then into the bush.

The car came to an abrupt stop as the driver managed to clear it from the ever busy highway.

It took more than 30 minutes before the tyre could be located about 25 metres deep inside the bush.

When all the other tyres were checked, it was discovered that the two front tyres also had their nuts half-loosened.

This made the security men to conclude that the car must have been sabotaged by the thugs where it was parked outside the gate.

Etuemena is credited for guiding Heartland back to the premiership in just one season after the team went on relegation.

His tenure also witnessed a massive improvement in club packaging, marketing and sponsorship drive, youth development as well as professionalism which gave the club a new image.

•PHOTO: Heartland of Owerri Chairman Goodfaith Chibuzo Etuemena

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 22, 2020

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