There is no doubt that players and officials of Heartland Football Club of Owerri are gradually worming themselves into the hearts of millions of soccer fans in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Gone are the days when the ‘Naze Millionaires’ team feared playing at the dreaded Liberty Stadium or the Lekan Salami Stadium, both in Ibadan. The situation now seems to be changing for good as the team is now comfortable playing in Ibadan.
Little wonder, officials of the club, still basking in the euphoria of last week’s 2-1 victory over Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), have given a huge pass mark to fans of the ‘Oluyole Warriors’, thus naming them the ‘Most Peaceful’ in the Nigerian professional league.
Team Manager of the Naze Millionaires, Promise Nwachukwu, summed it up by saying that they are always comfortable playing in Ibadan.
He said: “In 2013, when we visited Ibadan, we left the venue with a 2-0 victory over the Oluyole Warriors, and for the first time since that victory, we’re back still very comfortable.
“We are always comfortable playing against Shooting Stars, no matter the result. We and Shooting Stars are brothers, that’s why we are always comfortable here.
“Remember the year we were banished from Owerri and sent to Ilorin (Kwara State)? You know we asked to be moved to Ibadan, and we were successful there.
“Football is not war, as long as we see each other as one, we will be okay. And we just confirmed that with another 2-1 victory in the encounter.
The Naze Millionaires proved to be the better side of the day when they drew the first blood in the 16th minute through Ebere Odiche before the home team rallied back to equalise in the 66th minute through Taofeek Adepoju.
Late strike by Jimoh Oni condemned the Franklin Howard’s men to their second defeat of the season after their 0-2 loss to Wikki Tourists in their first match in Bauchi.
But the question now on the lips of the team’s supporters is whether Ibadan is now the second home of Heartland?
