Remain in Lagos - Okorocha orders Heartland

CONGRATS — Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha (L) congratulates Heartland's captain, Chinedu Efugh. PHOTO: SYLVER ELEANYA

Governor Rochas Okorocha is still high on the success of Heartland FC who won the FA Cup on Sunday.

The club was to return to Owerri Monday morning but he has ordered them to stay back in Lagos.

There are no pretences about his mood. The success, coming 23 years after they won the FA Cup last, is already part of his story on 100 Days in office. And he wants to tell it well to his people.

Heartland stays back in Lagos till Wednesday so that a deserving welcome reception will be organised for the champions. He wants Owerri people to hit the roads to receive their worthy champions.

“I think that the governor plans for us to be in a motorcade, ride on some major streets of Owerri and end up at the government house,” a club official said, adding “we came to Lagos in a bus but he has directed that we fly into Owerri Wednesday for a great reception.

Former Eagles coach and captain Christian Chukwu who is the technical consultant to the club says: I’m happy that we are presenting the FA Cup trophy to the Governor in his 100 Days in Office. The governor is excited and he has spoken well of football development.

Now that the club will play in the continent, football in Imo State will benefit from it because work will be done at the Owerri Stadium and there could be about two more training grounds to be developed. Generally, there will be better things for sports. I think there will a carnival atmosphere in Owerri when we arrive ”

Heartland beat Enyimba 1-0 to clinch this year’s FA Cup courtesy of Chinedu Efugh goal in the 40th minute.

“This is just a tip of the iceberg. Expect more things from us,” Okorocha said of the Heartland victory.

The players had appealed before the match that they wanted houses or flats in Owerri if they won the match. The appeal was made to Okorocha in a breakfast meeting he had with the team. He agreed to reward the players but did not say if the rewards would be houses. The players will be full of expectations as they arrive Owerri tomorrow.

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