Category: Front News

In line with the “Catch Them Young” Program instituted by the chairman of Heartland football club, Hon Goodfaith Chibuzo Etuemena (Bash) has attracted foreign scouts who are observing the talent hunt exercise round the state.
According to the club media director, Mr. Cajethan Nkwopara, the scouts who are from Europe were first received by the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, SGI before heading off to watch the friendlies organized by Mr. Bash for the talent
search.
Nkwopara further disclosed that the day two of the one week exercise took place at the Orji Comprehensive Secondary School, Owerri North
LGA, Imo state.
The talent hunt screening exercise by Heartland FC of Owerri and their partners, Brighter Tomorrow Football Academy has been described as the best of its kind in the did discovery of
natural raw football talents.
Imo State-born football legend, Kelvin Onwana who was at the Orji Comprehensive Secondary School, venue of today’s exercise, praised the un-baised and transparent manner in which the exercise was being conducted.
“I thank God that you people brought Europeans to do do this selection. All the players they are picking have good talent which can be seen by everybody. This is the best way to discover talents and I want you to keep it up,” he said.
On his part, the traditional ruler of Umuekwune Autonomous Community, His Royal Highness, Eze George Nwosu said good luck will follow the initiators of the programme choosing his community as one the venues for the talent hunt exercise.
“As you can see, I am highly elated. You people brought Europeans to my community to come and help develop our youths. God will bless you abundantly,” he prayed.

Heartland FC new Technical Adviser Mr. Emmanuel Deutsch today received, on behalf of his technical crew, a brand new Sienna car and a 3 bedroom apartment to aid his job.
According to the club’s Media officer, Mr. Deutsch was full of praises for the state government promising to give his best to the team.
“I am very happy. Words cannot describe how am feeling right now. The government has done their part. I promise to give my best and do all within my powers with the support of the players, my technical crew and the management to take heartland to where she truly belongs”
The coach further announced 29th November as resumption date. The players are expected to be at the Dan Anyiam stadium by 7am.
In a related development, the state government has frowned at the comments of the General Manager of the club Mr. Chibuzor Etuemena concerning the appointment of the new Technical Adviser informing him to sort issues with his employers before going public. The supervisor of the club and the Deputy Speaker of the Imo state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozuruigbo maintained that Heartland Football Club is the property of the Imo state government who are responsible for its staff management and players.
Hon. Ozuruigbo said: “the government of Imo state in their infinite wisdom, after the recommendation of a technical committee has hired Mr. Emmanuel Deutsch to steer the team back to the top flight.
If the General Manager Mr. Etuemena has a grouse with it he should meet his employers, the Imo state government for clarification rather than coming to the press to misinform the public. The same government that employed him from London has employed an experienced coach to lead the team.
“Anyone that loves Heartland should be preoccupied with plans of how to rejuvenate the team, restrategize, and repackage the team for a comeback while weeding out elements of infighting and sabotage that made the team sink.”
Hon.  Ozuruigbo further stressed that what should be uppermost in the minds of passionate imolites and Heartland faithfuls should be how to resurrect Heartland and not to chase shadows, positions or money. “The club is bigger than everyone and we owe her a duty to do everything to return her to the top flight,” he said.

Heartland FC Of Owerri recently unveiled a new Technical Adviser in the person of Coach Emmanuel Deutsch with a mandate to return the club to the top flight. The Supervisor of the club and Deputy Speaker of the Imo State house of assembly RT. Hon.Ugonnan Ozuruigbo assured the club of the Government’s support and resolve to assist the club to return to the top flight in one season. The Deputy Speaker announced that the Government has acquired an apartment for the Technical Adviser with an official car. He charged the Coach to live up to his pedigree by returning the club to the top flight. The elated gaffer Mr. Emmanuel Deutsch solicited the support of the media, fans and Supporters of the club to be partners in the new Project. He informed the media that there is no old or new player for Heartland; rather he promised to treat every player equally. The team will resume on the 29th of November 2016 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium by 7am. All players both New and old must report on the pitch

No Nigerian player made the last five of this year’s edition of the African Player of the Year award.
Super Eagles players John Obi Mikel, Ahmed Musa and KelechiIheanacho were named in the 30-man list of players nominated last month by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the African Footballer of the Year 2016.
However, the reigning African Player of the Year, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borrusia Dortmund) is in line to retain his gong after making the last five of this year’s edition of the award.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) published the list of the final five players on its website.
Also making the last five were Algerian and Leicester City duo of Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani.
CAF said the top five was decided by votes from the members of the CAF Media Committee, CAF Technical & Development Committee and half of the 20-member Panel of Experts (10 persons).
For the final phase, votes from the Head Coaches/Technical Directors of the 54 National Associations affiliated to CAF plus Associate Members, Reunion Island and Zanzibar, together with the other half of the 20-member Panel of Experts (10 persons) will be counted towards the determination of the eventual winners.
The 2016 Glo-CAF Awards Gala sponsored by telecommunication giants, Globacom, will be held on Thursday, 5 January 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Here is the full list:
For the African Player of the Year, they are;
1.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borrusia Dortmund)
2. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
3. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma)
5. Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City)
For the African Player of the Year (Based in Africa), the top five are;
1. KhamaBilliat (Mamelodi Sundowns & Zimbabwe)
2. Keegan Dolly
(Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
3. Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe & Zambia)
4. Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns & South Africa)
5. Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns & Uganda)

Soccer Ambassador understands that Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons, have complained that they have not yet been paid their bonuses by the Nigeria Football Federation ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Kenya in their final Group B fixture.
The players have not received bonuses since the qualifying stage, including the home and away fixtures versus Senegal.
During the training camp in Abuja before the squad departed for Cameroon, players and officials of the Super Falcons didn’t get any allowance from the NFF.
The Florence Omagbemi-led side have no injury worries ahead of tomorrow’s clash against Kenya at Stade Municipal de Limbe, amid speculations in the local media that Guingamp striker Desire Oparanozie is nursing an injury.
Nigeria will qualify for Tuesday’s semifinal if they can avoid defeat against Kenya no matter the outcome of the other group game between Ghana and Mali.

An inspired second-half comeback ensured Tottenham Hotspur’s last visit to Chelsea ended in a heartbreaking defeat and confirmed Leicester City as Premier League champions.
Almost seven months on Mauricio Pochettino’s men return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and tactics expert Adrian Clarke gives us the lowdown on what to expect.
Wide men will be central figures
Chelsea’s in-form wing-backs, Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso, have earned widespread praise for their attacking influence in recent weeks.
In the last four Premier League matches, Diego Costa is the only Chelsea player to have attempted more shots than the rejuvenated Moses. It is a surprising statistic and proves the 25-year-old has not just held his width brilliantly, but also driven inside.
It is no mean feat for someone still learning a new and unfamiliar role.
Alonso is perceived as being far more defensive, and while that is the case, he is also contributing greatly inside the final third.
The former Sunderland defender looks a perfectly suited acquisition by Antonio Conte; he averages 12.3km per-90 minutes and is ranked sixth in the PL for most distance covered.
Tottenham Hotspur’s full-backs are just as instrumental in the opposition half and the contests on the flanks will be engaging to watch.
Playing for a manager who encourages his attacking midfielders to roam infield (see average position map below) the speedy and aggressive pairing of Kyle Walker and Danny Rose are asked to provide the bulk of the width. This has made them hugely important players.
But having created nine goalscoring chances in his last four PL matches, the suspended Rose will be sorely missed on Saturday evening.
Stand-in Ben Davies is a serious injury doubt, which could mean Jan Vertonghen is shifted across to the left.
Will that impact on Spurs’ balance and hand an advantage to Moses down the right? There is a real danger it could.
Well-timed runs into wide channels crucial
The downside of playing with adventurous full-backs is that gaps are often left in behind them. Whoever seizes on the open space the quickest and most efficiently will be in the box seat to win.
No team has come close to exploiting them in Chelsea’s last six PL contests, but the best way to stretch the Blues’ three-man rearguard is to switch play instantly or to clip early passes for runners to chase in the wide channels.
Dragging the likes of Gary Cahill, Cesar Azplicueta and David Luiz towards the wings will be Spurs’ aim. The central defenders will not be comfortable there and it will drag the trio apart from another.
Spurs are excellent at switching play, so if they can pick the right passes fast enough they could taste success.
In terms of running down the sides, South Korea international Son Heung-min is tailor-made to hurt the Blues.
Given a free role away at Arsenal he went past central defender Shkodran Mustafi on the wings with ease on a couple of occasions, and his sharp darts into space beyond West Ham United’s full-backs last weekend also created two late goals.
If he starts, Chelsea must be wary of Son spinning into the channels on turnovers. There are few better players in the division at causing damage from the left side of the box.
At the other end, Eden Hazard and Pedro are delivering some scintillating football.
Since being asked to play in behind Costa in a 3-4-2-1, Hazard has registered five goals and one assist, while Pedro has delivered two goals and four assists.
Freed from defensive responsibilities inside their own half, as shown below, they have played with enthusiasm.
The problem Spurs face is that Hazard and Pedro are capable of hurting them in between the lines or by running into space beyond. Both are happy to mix things up.
In recent matches, full-backs, centre-backs and central midfielders have all been left a little confused as to who should mark the pair, and that indecision has proved costly for opposing sides.
The answer may be for Spurs to sit deep and play on the counter, but this goes against their natural instincts; they are happiest when pressing high and dominating possession.
To keep Chelsea’s lively front three quiet, the north Londoners face a quandary.
Do they opt for a defensive approach that nullifies their hosts, or do they seek to dominate the play and in turn limit their own influence? If they choose the latter, counter-attacks will be their biggest concern.
Solidity comes first
Chelsea and Spurs are the best organised Premier League sides without the ball. Scoring against either of them from open play has been exceptionally difficult.
What has been most impressive about Conte’s team is their positional structure. Every individual knows their role and as an XI they uniformly occupy the areas their head coach wants.
When dominating on the front foot they play in a 3-4-3 formation, but as soon as possession is lost they shift seamlessly into a 5-4-1 with men safely tucked in behind the ball.
Keeping six straight clean sheets proves how adept Chelsea are at reorganising their shape, with midfield men N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic especially helpful when it comes to providing cover.
To stretch and breach them Spurs must shift the ball at speed before the Blues have time to reset.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men have only shipped one goal from open play all season, which shows how resolute they are too. Using their physical strength in midfield to good advantage, they are disciplined and rarely get pulled out of shape.
Final thoughts
Upon studying the form guide, everything points to a tight and hard-fought encounter, but there are three reasons why it makes sense to lean towards Chelsea.
The absence of key defenders Rose and Toby Alderweireld could prove significant, not least with Costa, Hazard and Pedro in such great shape.
With Cahill and Costa extremely strong at set-pieces, Spurs’ fragility from dead-ball situations could also be an issue.
Every goal Pochettino’s men have conceded away from White Hart Lane in the PL this season (four in total) has originated from a corner or free-kick. They have issues with their set-up and marking.
There is also a feeling that Spurs are not playing with the same levels of high intensity that they displayed for much of 2015/16.
While they remain one of the hardest-working teams around, the stats do indicate that an edge has dropped off, and that does not make them quite as difficult to play against.
Right now you cannot say the same about Chelsea. On and off the ball they are producing energetic, well-balanced, nicely controlled football. You have to make them favourites.