Heartland Target First NPFL Win with Enyimba’s Visit as Boboye Begins Salvation Journey

Kunle Adewale

Heartland FC of Owerri will be hoping for their first three points of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League as they welcome defending champions, Enyimba of Aba, to the Dan Anyiam Stadium today.

Heartland are yet to taste victory in the nine-week-old league and are rock bottom on the 20-team log and it would be the Naze Millionaire’s first match since parting ways with former head coach, Christian Obi as new man at the helm, Kennedy Boboye, has promised to take the team out of the relegation waters.

Heartland FC are winless in the NPFL this season so far, having drawn six and lost three in nine matches. They lost three and drew two in their last five league matches and as per their horrid start to the season, the Owerri outfits are at the bottom of the table with six points.

Enyimba have however have done fairly well in the league this term so far, having won four of their opening eight league matches. They won three of their last five league matches, including their 2-1 tight win over Bendel Insurance in Aba on Wednesday. They sit in the 8th position with 13 points, four points shy of the submit.

The direct confrontation record of Heartland versus Enyimba reveals that Heartland won 5 times, while Enyimba managed one victory, and four matches ended in a draw.

Heartland has not lost in each of their last nine Premier League games against Enyimba and have not conceded in each of their last four Premier League home games against Enyimba.

While Enyimba has not scored in each of their last four Premier League away games, Heartland has scored in each of their last 12 Premier League home games.

Heartland have managed to score a total of six points over the past nine matches.

With four wins, one draw, and three losses, Enyimba currently holds the eight position in the Premier League after eight matches. Despite their modest performance, Enyimba cannot expect significant achievements. However, it is crucial that the players maintain focus and continue to improve from match to match.

Meanwhile, Kennedy Boboye has pledge to turn around the fortunes of struggling Heartland after being named the club’s head coach.

The former Akwa United gaffer, was named the Naze Millionaire’s new head coach on Wednesday following the sack of Obi over the club’s dismal start to the 2023/24 NPFL and has expressed optimism in the task ahead and hopes to pull Heartland out of the relegation zone.

“I am ready for the task. I had different thoughts when I was contacted initially because of the club’s position on the league table, but with what I have seen on the ground, I am certain we can pull through,” Boboye told Heartland FC.

“We need everyone to get to work. You are going to be seeing a new mentality in the team. The players have assured me there would be changes, and I am excited to be here.”

Boboye, a two-time NPFL winner with Plateau United in 2017 and Akwa United in 2021, faces a big test in his first game in charge of Heartland in an oriental derby against Enyimba today.