CAF Confed Cup: Stakeholders berate Imo govt over Heartland’s woes

By George Aluo
Nigerian football buffs, yesterday, blamed the Imo State government for the failure of Heartland to honour its CAF Confederation Cup return leg tie against US Bitam of Gabon. Heartland arrived Libreville, Gabon late on match day, even as the hosts claimed to have walked them over in the city of Bitam. It would be noted that Heartland, after failing to leave the country early enough for the match, was eventually airlifted on match day (Saturday) with two private jets provided by Governor Rochas Okorocha. The aircrafts could only accommodate 13 players and three officials.
Nigeria’s top CAF official, Paul Bassey, who was in Owerri for the first leg, wondered why the state government waited until the last minute to release the funds needed to prosecute the Gabon encounter. “I am aware the Heartland’s officials only started talking about visa two days to the match. They had no funds to pay for ticket reservations they made. Why wait until the very last minute? The late release of funds is about to bungle Heartland’s campaign in the Confederation Cup,” Bassey said. “We hope they get a reprieve from CAF. But if the walk over stands, they will face further sanctions from CAF.
The club may be fined, but lets see if CAF will listen to their protest and order a replay,” he said. Michel Obi, President of African Sports Journalist Union (ASJU), while fuming with rage, wondered why Heartland couldn’t honour a match in Gabon. “The Imo State government should have made it clear from day one that it does not have the capacity to fund a team playing on the continent. It is a shame that Heartland won the nation’s Federation Cup last year only to hit Owerri by road from Lagos thereafter. That same shambolic approach was carried into their continent campaign,” Obi stated.
Paul Ogazi, a seasoned sports journalist blamed Heartland’s travails on the government, even as he wondered what those running sports in the state are doing. “I think Imo sports is in wrong hands. I am pained that we can’t get things right. This is a club that has done well for the state, yet the same government can’t properly finance it. You can imagine a government that couldn’t release money on time to a team now wasting taxpayers money on two private jets when what they were embarking on now was nothing but a wild goose chase.” NFF board member, Emeka Inyama, also berated Imo State government, insisting that the problem of Heartland was squarely that of poor funding.
“Lobi Stars left the country for Maputo to honour their game one week before their match. Kano Pillars went to Congo with a charter flight, so how come Heartland couldn’t pay for their flight tickets? It’s an embarrassment to the people of Imo State and the country. In any case, the NFF will see what it can do to salvage the situation because if a case of force majeure is established, CAF will order for a replay.”