Amunike reveals why he calls Surajudeen Lawal, Nigeria’s Rashidi Yekini
By Everest Ezihe, Owerri
It’s no longer news that the youthful, Surajudeen Lawal of Heartland FC, Owerri has become a terror to defenders in the ongoing 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier League Football, NPFL, having 9 goals in his kit, what’s news, is why Coach Emmanuel Amunike the Technical Adviser to the Eastern Heartland has nicknamed him another Rashidi Yekini , even though the ex-international is now late.
Amunike disclosed this at VIP Stand of Dan Anyiam Stadium during pre-match interaction session with Sports Journalists shortly after his team walloped Plateau United FC of Jos 2-0 in a make or mare tactical football encounter of the Match Day 36.
He extolled Lawal who scored the brace that Heartland needed most to wriggle out of the premiership relegation zone against hard fighting visiting Plateau United of Jos, pointing out that Surajudeen Lawal is being nick named Rashidi Yekini because he hails from Ibadan with the then ex- international lanky prolific striker even as both seem to have maintained similar physical structures.
According to Amunike, “Surajudeen is one of the unknown players I discovered for the season and through hard work, determination, discipline and perseverance, he has been able to establish himself in Nigeria football family and the entire team is happy with him, as a striker humbly committed in helping his team.
“He’s a young player from Ibadan, the same city with late Nigerian star studded striker, Rashid Yekini. Am generally happy with the team, most of these players are just making their debut in Premier League but through process and commitments, they are getting stronger and consolidated.
However, there are mistakes along the journey, and these mistakes are part of the learning and blending process.
He passionately enjoined Lawal to remain focused and committed, “hence it’s not yet an eldorado”.
Amuneke observed that the game was challenging with high starks considering the club’s position in the league table.
The Technical Adviser also expressed gratitude that they have been able to surmount their challenges by convincingly winning the tough match with 2 goals to nil and grabbing the maximum 3 points that would enhance their chances of securing premiership position for the next season.
He lamented that in their previous matches their greatest bane has been converting their chances to goals which would have given the club more confidence to play the way they want to play as a team instead of being under pressure as the situation warrants now.
He assured of committed efforts to defeat Bendel Insurance FC of Benin in their next away match holding this weekend in Benin City
The gaffer observed with optimism that, ” In football, tactics is not a one way thing, all tactical methods works, but what matters is the methods you are applying can it get you the desired results ?.
Am a Coach that always want my players to play, am equally a Coach that demands a lot when we don’t have them. It’s also my desire for my players to defend, because football is both ways. What are you doing when you are in possession of the ball ? And what are you not doing when you are not in possession of the ball ?.
“Football is equally, all about looking at and understanding your strengths and weaknesses as well as that of your opponents, and making the best out of the weakness and the strength so as to achieve positive results”.
Earlier in his speech, the Plateau United FC Head Coach, Mbwas Mangut, described the score line as bad noting that they really prepared to win the match or at worst get a draw.
Mangut lamented that they were not ignorant of witnessing a difficult match because they were cautious of the fact that Heartland position in the league table is a joker that doesn’t represents the respect and regards Nigeria football family owns the club and could certainly play with determination as wounded lion.
” During the match, ,Heartland exhibited desperation and were very lucky to maximize all the few chances they had into goals, unfortunately, we continued to dominate, without posing any threat to the opponent, and we were a little bit sluggish of which we paid dearly for that”
On his accessment of the fans, he said ” I came here as a player during my days as a young Footballer, captained the team and later came back to Coach the team. I have some good relationships with the people, Owerri is one city that blossomed my career as a footballer. So whatever that’s happening to Heartland is also an emotional thing to me.
Heartland is a great club cherished by the Easterners and doesn’t deserve all the challenges happening to them in this season, I pray with the result they got today will be a boast in motivating them to over turn their challenges. I sincerely consider Owerri as my second ancestral home.
Adding his voice, the captain of Heartland FC, Christian Molokwu gave kudos to his team mates and the technical crew for living up to expectation lamenting that they’re uncomfortable with their position in the Nigeria Premier League table.
Molokwu assured of the team resolve to put up gallant efforts, especially in their next away match with Bendel Insurance FC of Benin in Benin City, Edo State Capital and Akwa United FC, Uyo, in Owerri, the Imo State capital and plead with their fans and supporters for calmness, unalloyed support and confidence.
