Afolayan wins maiden Imo SWAN Heartland Player of the Month
By Everest Ezihe, Owerri
As part of her strategies to encourage players of Heartland Football Club, Owerri, for optimal performances in the ongoing Nigeria Premier League, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN Imo State chapter has voted the team’s combative defender, Peters Afolayan as the maiden winner of the Club’s Player of the Month for September, 2024.
The Central Defender was unanimously voted for as the winner of the award by the Imo SWAN members because of his resilience and determined zeal in defence of the Naze Millionaires despite being involved in just two Nigeria Premier Football League games this season.
Afolayan won the gong ahead of Midfielder Udochukwu Anumudu, Goalkeeper Ebuka Nwokoecha and defender Benjamin Victor after polling the highest number of votes despite featuring in Heartland’s games with Katsina United and Shooting Stars only.
Before his introduction into Heartland FC defence this season, the Owerri side had conceded six goals from two games but with him in the defence, the Naze Millionaires only let in a goal from the next two games played.
The award will be presented to him shortly before kick off of the NPFL Matchday 5 tie between Heartland and Niger Tornadoes on Sunday at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
Imo SWAN got the list of the four shortlisted players for the inaugural edition from those that were picked as the Man of the Match winner for the four games played by the club in the ongoing season.
Benjamin Victor was named as the Man of the Match for Heartland vs Enyimba in Owerri on his debut while Goalkeeper, Ebuka Nwokoecha was adjudged as the Man of the Match for Rivers United vs Heartland in his first topflight game as well. Udochukwu Anumudu was picked as the Man of the Match for Heartland vs Katsina United while Peters Afolayan earned the recognition in Shooting Stars versus Heartland tie in Ibadan.
The Imo SWAN Heartland FC Player of the Month will be presented monthly for the most outstanding Heartland FC player for the particular month. It will be accompanied with a plague emblazoned with the player’s picture and his short profile.
