Heartland FC celebrates Amuneke at 54

Heartland FC Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke marked his 54th birthday in style yesterday stating that he remains indebted to God for helping him with his achievements thus far.

The former Barcelona of Spain winger also praised the kind of people he has been blessed to work with him in his journeys both as a footballer and now as a coach.

Amuneke didn’t fail to praise the role the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma is playing to ensure that Heartland FC lacks nothing in all facets.

Amuneke, a native of Eziobodo in Owerri West LGA of Imo State started his football journey in his hometown before he travelled to Lagos for greener pasture from where he was spotted by Julius Berger from a local competition organised at Ajegunle, a suburb notorious for the production of prominent footballers in Nigeria including Odion Ighalo.

The Heartland FC players and officials all gathered at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri to celebrate an icon whose sojourn at Heartland FC has reunited everyone at the club and he is gradually changing the Naze Millionaires to what it used to be in the past.

Speaking at the short but colourful occasion was Heartland FC Administrative head, Barrister Nkechi Anukam who spoke highly of Amuneke and stressed that what the officials of Heartland FC have organised was just to show a token of their appreciation to him for the good job he has started.

She urged him not to relent but keep up with the reforms to transform Heartland FC and make it the envy of all just like it was previously adding that he should remain undaunted and bullish in his attempt to rebrand the club without fear or favour and unmindful of whose horse his gored.

“We gather here to celebrate you because your coming to Heartland FC has helped to reunite the club again. We are happy with how you have started and praying you continue on this path to ensure Heartland FC becomes the envy of other clubs in Nigeria and beyond,” Barrister Anukam said.

“We will always be with you on this journey and we are assuring you of our undiluted support to help you succeed. You may encounter some challenges along the way but remain focused and undaunted in your quest to rebrand the club.

“What we have done today is just a token of our appreciation to show you that we love what you are doing and are delighted to follow your steps closely in your resolve to make Heartland FC among the best club in Nigeria and beyond.”

Other officials of the club also took turns to eulogise Amuneke and wished him well on his 54th birthday.

In his own speak, Amuneke thanked Heartland FC players, who also had some renditions prepared and officials for deeming it fit to celebrate him.

He said he will not relent in his determination to ensure that Heartland FC is rated among the best in Nigeria and he called for the continuous support of the players and officials to help him achieve his lofty dreams for the club.

Amuneke thumbed up the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma for the enabling environment and the freehand to tinker the team and he assures the Governor that Heartland FC will continue to improve.