NPFL: Heartland granted provisional return to Owerri

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

In a significant development for Heartland FC, the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has granted provisional approval for the club to host their remaining home games of the season at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.

This approval comes on the heels of notable improvements observed on the pitch during a recent inspection, marking a positive turn of events for the club.

The NPFL, in an official statement on their website, highlighted that this approval is contingent upon the current improvements and does not extend to the next season.

A comprehensive review of the stadium’s facilities will be conducted in alignment with the Facilities Criteria of the Club Licensing requirement before the start of the next season.

Heartland FC’s first fixture under this approval will be their Matchday 31 encounter against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.

Subsequently, all their remaining home games will be played at this venue, providing a familiar and supportive environment for the team and its fans.

This development follows the NPFL’s decision to revoke Heartland FC’s earlier provisional approval at the start of the second stanza of the season due to observed deterioration of the pitch. However, with concerted efforts and improvements, the club has regained the league’s confidence to host matches at their home ground.

Currently occupying the 19th position on the league table with 26 points after 30 games, Heartland FC faces the looming threat of relegation to the Nigeria National League (NNL).

The upcoming fixtures at their home stadium will be crucial in their battle to turn the tide of results and secure their position in the top tier of Nigerian football.

With this provisional approval in place, Heartland FC now has the opportunity to harness the support of their fans and leverage their home advantage as they strive to climb up the league standings and avoid relegation.