Heartland FC

Heartland FC is a Nigerian football club based in Owerri. Until its renaming in 2006 was named the club Iwuanyanwu Nationale. Play their home games, the club from the Dan - Anyiam Stadium. So far Heartland won the Nigerian Premier League and even the Nigerian FA Cup five times.

General

History

The club was founded on 4 August 1976 as Spartans FC.

In November 1985, the club was renamed FC Spartans FC National in Iwuanyanwu. Reason for the name change was the change of ownership of the club. The new owner was the politician and businessman Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. After a training tour in Brazil the club managed the hitherto greatest success at the national level. In January 1986, the Vice - Championship was won. The following year, again managed second place. Only Leventis United had to let go first. Since Leventis disbanded shortly thereafter, Iwuanyanwu National got the chance Nigeria at the African Cup of Champions Clubs, the African Champions League to represent. They, too, the title was awarded. The African Cup of Champions Clubs could reach the final. The first leg was won 1-0. However, one had to admit defeat in the return match with 0-4 against ES Setif (Algeria). National it ran a little better. In the final of the Cup could prevail 3-0 against Flash Flamingoes of Benin. The championship was won and thus made the double perfect. In 1989, the title was defended in the league. The team was back in the cup final, where you had to bend the BCC Lions 0-1.

In 1990, the title was defended for the third time. The African Cup of Champions Clubs Iwuanyanwu National reached the semifinals. A year later you could advance to the semifinals again. However, the championship title was not defended. After two years of drought the title was brought in 1993 to Owerri. By a 2-0 away win against El- Kanemi Warriors of success was perfectly done on the final day. This one was after two years of absence, at the African Cup of Champions Clubs. In the quarter- final first leg on 18 September 1993 they lost 3-0 against Espérance Sportive de Tunis. On the same day, when the team was just on my way home with a charter aircraft, the aircraft support in the south of Algeria, at Tamaransett, from. Two players, the defender and goalkeeper Uche Aimola Omale Ikeogu, died. The return match was then moved from 3 October to the 10th. The final result was 1:1, which meant the resignation of National.

Since this disaster, it 's been pretty quiet around the club. Title are mostly eliminated. In 1999 they won the league though, but had to be in the Super League play-off against Lobi Stars of Makurdi defeated. 2003, the team third in the Premier League, which gave them the start authorization for the CAF Champions League was.

On 7 February 2006, the state government withdrew the owner Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu all rights to the club and renamed it Heartland FC.

2007 you missed in Group A of the Globacom Premier League just to participate in the Super 4 playoffs. With 29 points you had a less than those located at No. 2 Enugu Rangers International. Particularly annoying for Heartland was that only three games were lost. That's two less than the first place winner had Wikki Tourists FC. However, if they can be eight draws. The 2007/08 season had some changes to the previous game mode. Instead of two groups and a subsequent play-off phase, the leagues were merged and modeled on the European standards. With 20 teams started the new season. At the end of Heartland took second place behind the Kano Pillars FC. Only one item was missing for more championship. In the following year there was only enough for runner-up title. This time you had the Bayelsa United FC have precedence and that although you could win the first leg game against the eventual champions. Even on the final day, the team of Bayelsa was only two points in front. Through their 1-1 draw against FC Warri Wolves, reaching the first table space was still possible. However, the team lost to Heartland FC Niger Tornadoes and thus had to concede defeat in the competition.

History of the name

Achievements

  • Nigerian Cup: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
  • Nigerian Cup Winners: 1988
  • CAF Champions League: 1988 ( finalist ), 2009 ( finalist )

Well-known former players

(Selection)

  • Nigeria Abiodun Baruwa (Former national team of Nigeria )
  • Nigeria Emeka Ifejiagwa ( between 2000-2003 at VfL Wolfsburg)
  • Vincent Enyeama Nigeria ( Current national player of Nigeria )
  • Nigeria Finidi George (Former national team of Nigeria )
  • Nigeria Nwankwo Kanu ( Nigeria Current national player )
  • Nigeria Chidi Nwanu (Former national team of Nigeria )
  • Nigeria Michael Obiku (Former national team of Nigeria )
  • Nigeria Uche Okechukwu (Former national team of Nigeria )
  • Isaac Okoronkwo Nigeria (Former national team of Nigeria )
  • Nigeria Darlington Omodiagbe ( Since 1999 active in various clubs in Germany )
  • Nigeria Bob Osim (Former national team of Nigeria )
  • Ikechukwu Uche Nigeria ( Current national player of Nigeria )
  • Bulgaria Petar Stanev ( Former player of Akademik Sofia, Lokomotiv Sofia and CSKA Sofia ( and others) )
  • Kalu Uche Nigeria ( Current national player of Nigeria )

Heartlands Coaches

( incomplete)

  • August 2007 - January 2009: Bulgaria Mitko Dobrev
Dan Anyiam Stadium Nigeria Premier League Lobi Stars F.C. 2009 CAF Champions League Dolphins F.C. (Port Harcourt) Kano Pillars F.C. Niger Tornadoes F.C. Ocean Boys F.C. Sharks FC Wikki Tourists F.C.
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