NPFL ticket: Heartland management , Imo FA laud Imo Sports Commissioner
By George Aluo
Heartland management who are still basking in the euphoria of their qualification for the NPFL are full of praise for Imo State sports commissioner Hon Emeka Okoronkwo.
General Manager of the club, Promise Nwackukwu who spoke this morning ahead of the title decider against Kano Pillars in Asaba said Okoronkwo is simply an amazing administrator who gave the team all the needed support to get things right.
“Hon Okoronkwo is got sent. He deserves all the credit for what you see us celebrating today. Without mincing words, that we bounced back is because a man like him is in-charge. I thank him for leading us to where we are today and I thank His Excellency Gov Hope Uzodimma for standing by the team and providing virtually everything we need to prosecute the NNL campaign. It is not easy for a team to go down and return immediately,” Nwachukwu said.
Just like Heartland management, Imo FA has also commended the Imo state government for ensuring the return of Heartland.
FA Vice Chairman Barrister Ifeanyi Dike in a release stated…
“Great Imolites, permit me to on behalf Imo Football Association Family, under the leadership of Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, thank and Appreciate the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellence Dist.Senator Hope Uzodinma ( Onwa Oyoko) and The Hon.Commissioner for Sports Youth and Social Development, Hon.Emeka Okoronkwo (Agujiegbe) for their unrelented efforts and sacrifices to bring our Darling Club Heartland FC, back to elite league NPFL, just a season after being relegated. Recall that likes of Bendel insurance of Benin, 3SC of Ibadan, Elkanemi warriors of Maiduguri, Calabar Rovers of Calabar, kaduna United of Kaduna, and a host of other clubs that have been on relegation at one time or the other, didn’t find it easy to come back. While it took some clubs decades to come back, some have not come back till date, however we achieved this fit, just within one season. Credit to doggedness and Administrative qualities of our loveable and amiable commissioner of youths and sports, who have been able to bring all the sports and football stakeholders in the state and beyond together within a short time.
Recall that upon Assumption of office as the commissioner for youths and sports late last year, the seasoned, administrator, set out different committees, looking into the problems in Heartland FC, and other state sports outfits, he engaged experts ( lawyers) in areas where needed for dispute resolutions, and he had since started paying debts incurred by the previous administrations.
He equally carried the FA along in all his dealings, and even introduced pre match and post match meetings for club officials. His relationship with the management and coaching crew is like that of yam and red oil.
He goes extra mile to make sure fund is made available to the club when needed.
What more can I say, it is glaring that the style and Efforts of the Commissioner for youths and Sport gave us early promotion.
We say thank you and remain blessed.”
