News
Emmanuel Amuneke expresses optimism in young players driving Heartland to success
By Saheed Afolabi
Heartland FC manager, Emmanuel Amuneke, is confident that his youthful squad can propel the club to success in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
The Naze Millionaires finished the first half of the season with 22 points from 19 matches, and Amuneke is proud of the young talent the club has nurtured.
He praised the players for making the most of the opportunities they’ve been given, stressing that their growth is vital to the club’s future.
“I’m proud of the young squad we paraded in the first half of the season,” Amuneke told Heartland media.
“As you all know, I am a product of the same system. After I left secondary school, I was given an opportunity at Julius Berger, which has made me who I am today.
“I think in Nigerian culture, we often want to be big immediately and achieve good results quickly.”
The former international also highlighted that the primary focus at Heartland is on developing young players, setting a foundation for their progression.
“We at Heartland are focused on developing our players to grow. For instance, the former African Player of the Year was a product of myself and Emeka Amadi in the U-17. Within five years, he was one of the best players,” Amuneke reflected.
He further emphasized the importance of creating an environment where young players are continually encouraged to improve, believing this approach will help them mature and become better players.
“It’s through these channels that they will mature and be much better players,” he concluded.
