FIFA licenced scout identifies with Heartland FC

Photo : From left, Tom Sanders of Netherlands, Coach Emmanuel Amunike and Barr. Ifeanyi Dike, the Imo FA Chairman, during the media interaction.

By Everest Ezihe, Owerri

Emmanuel Amunike, the Technical Adviser to Heartland Football Club of Owerri in Imo State, Nigeria has brought Mr.Tom Sanders of Netherlands for a collaborative partnership assistance in marketing of the players to Europe, America and Asian continents as well as repositioning the club to greater performances and fortunes.

Amunike disclosed this in Owerri on Thursday while addressing members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Imo State chapter on the club’s planned activities geared towards strengthen her fortunes.

He described Sanders as an age long friend that played along great players like Austin Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo and with over 25 years experience in marketing young talented African players to other continents of the world.

The sweat merchant assured that the FIFA rated scout is on a mission to help his club to the next level in terms of standard enhancement and marketing, noting the willingness of his club to sign MOU with the ex-international footballer.

He attributed the dwindling fortunes of the club to internal issues which he happily informed that efforts have been geared towards resolving them, while reassuring of his patriotic commitments in repositioning Heartland FC back to its glorious days, and enjoined all hands to be on deck.

Responding, Sanders who in his playing days, played for top rated European clubs in Germany, Austria, Poland and England among others.

The football czar confirmed his mission in Heartland FC as marketing and enhancing the potentials of the team such that their players could easily be signed by clubs in Europe, America , Asia and some African countries as well as rendering special assistance that would help in the overall turnaround of the fortunes of the club.

He expressed happiness, that the football club have some young potentials, and futuristic players which he said he identified during their training sessions and commended Amunike for his training prowess of international standard.

The FIFA licenced scouting agent further canvassed the need of having statistical personal data of each player noting that clubs always looks for utility players who are warriors on the field of play, with energetic physique, speed, good mental alertness and total commitments to the game.

Sanders also lampooned the playing pitch of Dan Anyiam Stadium while advising on the need for sporting infrastructural transformation and developments as the key for sports development, as well as investing more on young potential players.

In his speech, Barr. Ifeanyi Dike, the Chairman Imo State Football Association, FA applauded the Dutch for his interest in young African players describing his mission programme as the right step in the right direction.

Dike also commended Amunike for carrying the State Football Association, FA along, noting that, it has been an age long historical tradition, in terms of alliance and affiliation with the discovery of raw talented African players into harnessed footballer potential exploits in Europe, America and Asia continents.

He gave an instance with the seamless mutual collaborative trials existing between Ajax Cape Town in South Africa and Ajax Amsterdam, just as he recalled how late Chief Ifeanyi Uba of Ifeanyi Uba FC, Nnewi pulled similar deal with West Ham United FC, but was frustrated due to poor management and lack of technical experiences.

The Football Administrator pointed out that the idea is the justification that football is a big business even as he also identified physique, indulgence and ability to listen to coaches as the panacea young talented players needs to excel in the game.

Dike pledged unalloyed cooperations and support of FA in whatever programme they are embarking upon for the growth and upliftment of the club.

The Chairman posited that Imo State of has produced more national and international players both male and female for the country than any other State of the federation, this he said he recently told the President and members of NFF Board.

He further described Emmanuel Amunike as a grassroot coach that believes in grooming raw talents into stardom, with historical antecedents and pedigree.

Dike also said that Amunike informed him that the collaborative programme is not only designed for the benefits of Heartland players alone, that the package is equally for any talented footballer with prospective potentials no matter his football club.