Wednesday 10 January 2018

Heartland not ready for NPFL, says Ebele Obi

By Akeem Lawal
GOALKEEPER of newly promoted Heartland FC, Ebele Obi, has revealed that the Owerri based side are not ready for the 2017/18 Nigeria Professional Football League season scheduled to kick off this weekend.

The Naze Millionaires are scheduled to host Sunshine Stars at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri in one of the Match Day One fixtures on Sunday.

In a chat with Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com after the team lost 2-1 to Go Round in the final of the Bet9ja Nigeria National League Super Four competition in Lagos on Tuesday, Obi, who is the elder brother of Super Eagles Captain, Mikel Obi said they did not have adequate preparations for the league.

“Honestly speaking I won’t lie to you, as a player we are not fully ready. This Super Four has been rough I can tell you. We did not prepare like every other clubs have done.


The release from the government for us to start preparation was very late. We did not go for any camp, We did not go for any pre-season tournament, no friendly games. This is the first time we are coming out, this is the first time we are playing a friendly game.

“It has not been easy and it is really showing on the players. No connection in the team, no sign that the team has been together. All the same we will continue to work hard and see how we will work on the fitness level of the team. I know it will be difficult but we will do our best” Obi told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com.

Heartland are making a return to the elite division after spending last season in the lower league and Obi says he is happy to help the team gain promotion to the NPFL.


“It was not an easy one at the beginning in the Nigeria National League last season. We were relegated and the spirit was so low, the team was demoralized. Most wanted to leave but myself, Julius Obido, Obiora and some other old players decided to stay put and play and see how we would work hard and bring the club back to the Premier League and that was what we did. We are now ready to make sure that the team remains in the top division,” Obi told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com.

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