Heartland 0-0 Katsina United Report: The Naze Millionaires earn season’s first point in disappointing home stalemate

Despite creating a plethora of chances, Heartland FC could only settle for a goalless draw at home to Katsina United in a Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday Three tie played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Sunday.

The Naze Millionaires had earlier lost to Enyimba and Rivers United in their first two games and fans were expectant of the club’s first home win of the season but they were left disappointed after several missed chances.

Heartland Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke made four changes to the team that lost 3-1 to Rivers United in Port Harcourt with Peters Afolayan and Adoh Frank featuring in their first game of the season while Surajudeen Lawal and Wisdom Samuel made a return to the first XI. Lawal had a fringe role in Port Harcourt while Wisdom was absent in the game because of the injury he copped in the first game with Enyimba.

Ebuka Nwokoecha was still trusted to man the goal post after a commendable performance in Port Harcourt while usual suspects: Chijioke Opara, Benjamin Victor, Elvis Ori and Christian Molokwu got their second and third games of the season.

Udochukwu Anumudu was given another opportunity to impress the technical crew while Promise Anyanwu completed the list of the first 11 in the game.

The Naze millionaires went straight to business earlier in the first half in an attempt to break the deadlock and could have been three goals up inside the opening 15 minutes but Anyanwu, Lawal and Samuel Wisdom were guilty of missing gilt edge chances. The former was presented with easier opportunities in the third and 14th minutes but his efforts hit the post and went off target respectively on both occasions.

Though it could be argued that the Chanji Boys Goalkeeper, Kolimba Alladoum had a decent game too parrying some of the chances to ensure his side did not concede a goal.

Chanji Boys defence was kept busy too for most part of the game but Heartland FC players lack of cutting edge in the final third prevented them from getting at least goal

Sensing a possible home draw, the head coach, Amuneke pulled off Wisdom Samuel, Surajudeen Lawal and Adoh Frank for Chukwuma Agor, Uchenna David and Chukwudi Agor in the 72nd minute. Their inclusion brought more urgency to the attack but the team still suffered from lack of conversion of created opportunities.

The game ended goalless to the chagrin of everyone including the fans that thronged the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

In a post match interview after the match, Heartland assistant coach, Chidi Ike said the technical crew was not happy with the home draw but assured Imo fans that the players would get it right very soon.

“We have done our best in the technical crew to give the boys adequate training and of course you can see the display of the boys in showing character, we shouldn’t forget one thing that every game has its day,” Ike told journalists in Owerri.

“I’m optimistic that this boys are going to do great things. sometimes the starting is always difficult but the end justifies the means.

“It happens in game even in the premier league, we see big players miss a lot of chances but we are very optimistic this boys will do well.”

Heartland will be on the road to Ibadan to face Shooting Stars in the next fixture and when asked about what to expect in the next game Ike noted that the technical crew would compare notes on the just ended game and use that to fashion out how the trip to Ibadan would look like.

“One at a time, this match is done and dusted. We are going to approach them in the next match with maximum effort with the hope of securing a positive result.“ Ike added.