Nwaneri, Ogbuke Still On Heartland’s Radar

In spite of the lockjam in securing the services of Obinna Nwaneri and Felix Ogbuke, 2009 CAF Champions League finalist, Heartland Football Club of Owerri, said it is still in the hunt for the duo.

Assistant coach of the Naze Millionaires, Ben Iroha, told Naijaligue.blogspot.com that the club is still in talks with the players’ representatives and is hopeful that the players would secured soon.

But Iroha did not state the reason for the delay in rounding off the contract talks for the two players, who have played for the national teams of Nigeria in the past.

“The players are still talking to us and nothing has been concluded yet. I know that Heartland want to sign them and we will be happy to have them in our team. But for now nothing has happened. I am sure that very soon they will be joining us,” Iroha said.

The 40-year-old coach believes that the addition of the two players would further boost the stocks of the Naze Millionaires in the Premier League and the CAF Champions League group stage if the club makes it that far.

Iroha said the club’s technical crew is keen to see the duo join the club before the end of this season after the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) assured that it is ready to give the club preferential treatment outside the transfer window to bring in the new players to boost the number of quality players in the championship.

“Obinna in his own standard is a good player just like Ogbuke and I believe if they join us, they will make us have a strong squad. I hope they will join us before the end of the season especially for the group stage of the CAF Champions League,” Iroha said.

Team manager of Heartland, Emeka Iwuagwu, also buttressed Iroha’s position saying that the club is doing everything within its power to lure the players to the Premier League in Nigeria.

Iwuagwu also disclosed that discussions with the players and their agents are still ongoing and yet to be concluded.

“We are still talking to them. Nothing has happened yet but very soon,” he said.

It is likely the players may join Heartland for the group stage of Africa’s elite club competition, the CAF Champions League, if it beats South African representative, SuperSport United.