Heartland Football Club appear to have pulled the rug under the feet of their oriental rivals, Enugu Rangers, in the battle to sign Internazionale Enugu goalkeeping talent, Chinedu Udeh, for the new Premier League season.
For several weeks, the 6 ft 4 Udeh had trained with the Flying Antelopes in Enugu for the new season and coach of Rangers, Alphonsus Dike, was excited by the prospect of the goalkeeper.
Dike had told SuperSport.com earlier this month that he was impressed with the goalkeeper’s performances during training with his side.
But it is Siasia, who won the rights to lure the goalie to Owerri.
However, Udeh told the official website of Inter Enugu that he opted to join the Naze Millionaires in order to change environment since he has spent all his life and career in Enugu with Internazionale.
“I wanted a change of environment and a new scene for my career. I have lived in Enugu and played my football in the city for almost all of my life and now I need to make a move outside the Coal City,” Udeh said.
“I’m happy Heartland came for me at the right time, and I hope to be back to Enugu keeping for Rangers some day. But for now I really need that change of environment.”
The 19-year-old is believed to have signed a pro-contract at Heartland due to the insistence by Siasia that he will only take the goalie on a permanent deal rather than a loan spell as most Inter Enugu have earned in the past weeks with Nigeria Premier League (NPL) side.
Udeh signed a year deal with Heartland with an option of another year sequel to his performance for the Naze Millionaires.
He will face battle for a starting place with Bassey Akpan, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Austin Brown.
It is the third player Heartland have signed from Inter Enugu for the 2010/2011 season after sealing deals for midfielders Hamzat Jamiu and Obinna Nwachukwu.
Inter Enugu president, Nna Francis Yawe, confirmed the deal saying: "We had to sign him outright going by the sincerity of Heartland towards his development.”
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