By: Wale Mustapha
Heartland FC’s Technical Adviser, Emmanuel Amuneke, is a relieved man after guiding his side to a crucial 2-0 victory over Kano Pillars in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 32 encounter on Saturday.
The victory at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, saw Heartland end an eight-match winless run and climb out of the relegation zone.
Amuneke was full of praise for his team’s resilience, despite facing a tough opponent in Kano Pillars.
“First, I must confess that we played against a very good side. You’ve got to recognize that fact. Kano Pillars is a team with huge experience,” Amuneke stated in a post-match interview with Heartland’s media.
“Like I always emphasize, you must first find a way to contain such a team, then take your chances when they come. That’s exactly what we did in this game.
“It’s not about being spectacular in performance—it’s about winning and securing the three points.”
Amuneke’s focus on securing the win rather than style paid off, as Heartland now have three valuable points to build on for the remainder of the season.
Looking ahead, the Owerri-based club will face oriental rivals Rangers in their next league game in Enugu, aiming to continue their resurgence.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
