Following his side’s 2 – 0 triumph over Ocean Boys in a Week 11 game in the Premier League, Heartland Football Club’s centre-back, Thankgod Ikechukwu, has warned rival clubs to write off the Naze Millionaires at their own peril.
He told Naijaligue.blogspot.com that the 2009 CAF Champions League is now within touching distance with the pacesetting teams in this season’s campaign of the top-flight division in Nigeria
The Naze Millionaires, at the moment, is just five points behind league leader, Enyimba, in spite of occupying eighth position after climbing five places up following the win at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri on Sunday.
The strong-tackling defender also pointed out that Heartland FC’s ambition is to win the Premier League after coming close in the last two seasons in which it finished in second position in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 seasons behind Kano Pillars and Bayelsa United respectively.
“We had a bad start in the league this season, and I think that was because we were still playing in the (CAF) Champions League then. Our focus was then the (CAF) Champions League, which we could not win. But now we are facing the league and our results since we lost the (CAF) Champions League has been different and that is why we are doing well and I know that it is just a matter of time before we find ourselves among the top four or top five.
“But if anyone or any club was writing us off, then they have a big mistake because we know why we are playing in this league. Our ambition is to win the league this season and I believe we can do it because we have the kind of players that can compete though the league is a bit tough this season since we have quality players at almost every club,” he said.
Since the start of December, Heartland FC is yet to lose a game and ThankGod is confident that the Naze Millionaires, which is still waiting to win its first league trophy since 1993, can pick up a stretch of unbeaten run in this campaign.
Already in this month, Heartland FC has won its two home games against Kaduna United and Ocean Boys by similar score-line of 2 – 0 as well as a goalless draw at Sunshine Stars and ThankGod has been instrumental in ensuring that his side keeps a clean sheet in defence.
However, the club would seek to close the gap between itself and Enyimba to two points on Wednesday when it plays host to Gateway Football Club.
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