Heartland F.C.
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| Full name | Heartland Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Spartans, Naze Millionaires, Hearts | ||
| Founded | 1976 | ||
| Ground | Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri, Imo, Nigeria | ||
| Capacity | 10,000 | ||
| Chairman | Ibeh Okechukwu[1] | ||
| Manager | Erasmus Onuh | ||
| League | Nigeria Premier League | ||
| 2016 | 18th (relegated) | ||
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Heartland FC (formerly known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale 1985–06) is a Nigerian football club based in Owerri. They play their home games at Dan Anyiam Stadium. Until their 17th place showing in 2016, they were one of two teams in the top flight that had never been relegated.
History
Originally founded as Spartans FC, they won the Nigerian championship three years running from 1988–90. [1]. Their first international (friendly) match was against Ararat Yerevan of the USSR which Spartans won 2–0 at the Township Stadium, Tetlow Road, Owerri, in August 1976.[2]
Milestones
November 1985: Spartans FC renamed Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC following a successful change of ownership from Imo State Government to chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
January 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 United 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, winning 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 commemorative 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 semi-final.
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 quarter-final. Lose 3–0 to Espérance de Tunis of Tunisia in first leg tie, September 18. Aboard a chartered Oriental Airline, the team suffered an aircrash at Tamanrasset, 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 play-off.
2005: Finished third in Premier League and also in the Coca-Cola FA Cup with coach Stanley Eguma in charge.
2006: Imo State Government re-acquire ownership of the club on February 7 from chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, renaming it Heartland FC.[2]
2008: Finished second in Premier League by one point to Kano Pillars, earned a Champions League slot.
2009: Finished second in the 2009 CAF Champions League, losing to away goals to TP Mazembe after tying 2–2 on aggregate.
Achievements
- 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993.
- 1988, 2011, 2012.
- Nigerian Super Cup: 2
- 2011, 2012.
Performance in CAF competitions
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Current squad
As of March 2015
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Coaching staff
- Ndubuisi Ndubueze (Head Coach)
- Promise Nwachukwu (Assistant Team Manager)
- Ivan Olev (Fitness Coach)
- Chijioke Osuagwu (Chief Coach Team ‘B’)
- Emma Osuigwe (Assistant Coach Team ‘B’)
Ike Shorunmu (Goalkeeping coach)
Former coaches
- Ossai Chukwuka
- Kelechi Emetole
Mitko Dobrev (Aug 2007 – Jan 09)- Ben Iroha (2009–??)
Lodewijk de Kruif (March 2010–??)- Samson Siasia (July 2010 – Dec 10)
- Christian Chukwu (interim) (Feb 2011 – March 11)
- Lodewijk de Kruif (2011–12)
