Heartland in High Spirit Ahead of Oriental Battle with Rangers, Says Christian Obi

Kunle Adewale

Ahead of tomorrow’s Oriental battle between Enugu Rangers and Heartland of Owerri in one of the match day seven fixtures of the Nigeria Premier Football League,l at the Awka City Stadium, Awka, Anambra State.

The two teams have churned out contrasting results since the beginning of the 2023-24 NPFL season. While the Flying Antelopes just lost the top position on the log, the same cannot be said of the Naze Millionaires who have been struggling to swim out of relegation waters since the kickoff of the new season.

Heartland are winless in their opening six NPFL matches, unlike Rangers, who have won three of their opening six NPFL games.

However,  according to the Chief Coach of the Owerri based side, Christian Obi, the team is set to begin a new course to the season with the visit to Rangers.

“We are well prepared for Sunday’s game against Enugu Rangers, the players are well motivated for the clash and their spirit are very high. The encounter will be a survival of the fittest and we have trained very hard for it. We shall continue to push on,” Obi told THISDAY.

The former Nigeria international also called on the club’s management and supporters to be patient with the coaching staff, assuring that he would turn the fortune of the club around just like he did when Heartland was campaigning in the Nigeria National League, NNL.

“After just gaining promotion to the NPFL, we are passing through a growth system, but the supporters just want us to pick a continental ticket in our first campaign in the NPFL which is putting lot of pressure on the players.  “ The pressure is easing off the players now and they are getting more focused. Hopefully, we will come out of Awka unscratched on Sunday,” Obi opined.

Enugu Rangers have impressed their fans this season, having won three of their opening six NPFL matches. They currently occupy the third position with 10 points after six matches.

Heartland  are at the bottom of the table with four points after six matches. They are winless this season so far, having drawn four of their opening six NPFL matches. It’s obvious the Imo State club have struggled to impress this term and will do everything to pull off a shock in Awka this weekend.

Although the Imo State outfits haven’t won a game in the NPFL this term so far, they have managed five goals in six matches, and because Rangers have conceded six goals in five matches, there’s a chance both teams could score.