Heartland F.C.

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Heartland
Full name Heartland Football Club
Founded 1976
Ground Dan Anyiam Stadium
Owerri, Nigeria
(Capacity 10,000)
Chairman Ignatius Okeahialam
Manager Flag of Bulgaria Mitko Dobrev
League Nigerian Premier League
2007

Heartland F.C (until 2006 known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale) is a Nigerian soccer club based in Owerri. Originally founded as Spartans FC, they won the Nigerian championship four years running from 1987-1990 [1]. Their first international (friendly) match was against Ararats F.C. of the USSR which Spartans won 2-0 at the Township Stadium, Tetlow Road, Owerri, in August 1976.[2] In 2005 they finished third in the Nigerian Premier League and also in the Coca-Cola FA Cup. They play their home games at Dan Anyiam Stadium.

Contents

[edit] Milestones

Nov. 1985: Spartans FC renamed Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC following a successful change of ownership from Imo State Government to chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

Jan. 1986: Iwuanyanwu Nationale embark on a 3-week training tour of Brazil. The club finished runner-up of Nigerian top league.

1987: Iwuanyanwu Nationale emerge league runners up behind Leventis on goal difference. But they later got the ticket to represent Nigeria in CAF Champions Cup following the disbandment of Leventis United.

1988: Iwuanyanwu Nationale repeat as league champions as well as winning Nigerian FA Cup for first time, beating Flash Flamingoes of Benin in cup final 3-0. Reach CAF Champions Cup final, wining 1-0 in first leg tie in Ibadan, losing 4-0 in Constantine, Algeria in return leg versus Entente Setif.

1989: Retain league title but lost FA Cup following 0-1 loss in final to BCC Lions.

1990: Iwuanyanwu Nationale beat Stationery Stores of Lagos in Lagos in professional League's comemorative game 2-1. Nationale went on to emerge first pro league winners in Nigeria.

1991: Nationale lose league title to Julius Berger, crash out of CAF Champions Cup to Nakivubo of Uganda in quarterfinal.

1993: Club regain league title following a 2-0 away victory over El-Kanemi Warriors in last league fixture to edge out Bendel Insurance to the title race. 1994: Reach champions cup quarterfinal. Lose 3-0 to Esperance of Tunisia in first leg tie, September 18. Aboard a chartered Oriental Airline, the team suffered an aircrash at Tamaransett, Southern Algeria same night. Two players, defender Aimola Omale and goalkeeper Uche Ikeogu lost their lives. CAF consequently shifted the return leg match in Owerri from October 3, to October 10. Nationale crashed out following a 1-1 draw in the return leg match.

1999: Emerged regular league champions but lost title to Lobi Stars of Makurdi in the inaugural Super League playoff.

2005: Emerged Premier League third best team. Earn a CAF Confederations Cup ticket with coach Stanley Eguma in charge.

Feb. 7, 2006: Imo State Government re-acquire ownership of the club from chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, re-naming it Heartland FC.[1]

[edit] Achievements

1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
1988
1988 (runners-up)

[edit] Performance in CAF Competitions

1988: Finalist
1989: Second Round
1990: Semi-Final
1991: Semi-Final
2006 - Group Stage
2000 - Semi-Final

[edit] Current Squad

  • Mangut Yusuf (capt.)
  • Austin Brown (GK)
  • * Emeka ‘Ayaya’ Nwanna
  • Oliver Agbo
  • Victor Ezuruike
  • Aziz Ansah
  • Arinze Ewenike(DF)
  • Emmanuel Omodiagbe
  • Damian Udeh
  • Longinus Duru (GK)

[edit] Former Stars

[edit] References

  1. ^ ThirdSphere.com - This account has been suspended
Nigerian Premier League 2007-08 Flag of Nigeria
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Akwa United | Bayelsa United | Bendel Insurance | Enugu Rangers | Enyimba | Gombe United | Heartland | Jigawa Golden Stars | JUTH | Kano Pillars | Kwara United | Lobi Stars | Nasarawa United | Niger Tornadoes | Ocean Boys | Prime | Sharks | Sunshine Stars |Wikki Tourists | Zamfara United
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