NPFL: Surajudeen Lawal keeps Heartland FC’s hope alive
By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
Heartland FC’s battle to wriggle out of the relegation zone in the last lap of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL got a remarkable boost Wednesday with the team’s 2-0 victory over visiting Plateau United FC of Jos.
The Naze Millionaires defeated the Jos Boys following two master-stroke goals from Heartland FC’s striker, Surajudeen Lawal in the 18th and 71st minutes of play at the Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri.
The MatchDay36 home win courtesy of Lawal’s sharp shots preserved hope of survival of the struggling Owerri side from relegation after the current premier league season.
The midweek encounter began with both sides appearing to be cautiously sizing each other in the early minutes but charged up for real battle as Surajudeen Lawal’s first goal separated them
Apparently spurred by the first goal, Heartland boys intensified pressure intermittently by holding firmly to the ball with unbridled confidence despite the daring onslaughts of the visitors.
As the match progressed, relentless efforts by Plateau boys intensified but never paid off because of the solid wall of defence mounted by Heartland FC ably manned by the goalkeeper, Kevin Ogunga, until the end of first half.
Desperate to alter the tide of the game in their favour, Plateau United hurriedly substituted three players before opening of the second half to reinforce their squad and that somehow sharpened the attack of the visitors.
The Owerri landlords now placed 16th on the NPFL log will be on away encounter with Bendel Insurance FC in Benin for their second to last match in the current NPFL season.
Meanwhile, Technical Manager of Heartland FC, Emmanuel Amuneke has reiterated his confidence in the ability and commitment of his players to sail through in coming matches and navigate out of relegation zone.
Speaking to sports writers immediately after the match at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Amuneke who admitted that it was not yet Uhuru for the team, however maintained that his boys are more poised to grab the remaining 6 points both at home and away.
He described the encounter with Plateau United as a good match and an indication that all hope is not lost for better days to come and urged the club’s fans and Imolites in general to sustain their support for the Owerri Landlords.
