Heartland Technical Manager, Emmanuel Amuneke has praised his players for not losing focus at the crucial moment in Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Shooting Stars in a NPFL Matchday 24 fixture in Owerri.
The Naze Millionaires defeated the Oluyole Warriors through Chukwuma Agor and John Bassey goals in the 31st and 88th minutes with Mustapha Adam’s 80th minute spot kick a mere consolation for the visitors.
Amuneke while speaking to journalists shortly after the encounter, said his boys showed the zeal and determination to seal the three points and that despite the shenanigans of the centre referee, Kolawole Emmanuel, the boys were never troubled.l
“We were eager to get the three points and we were aware Shooting Stars are a good side and won’t allow us to have our way easily,” Amuneke told journalists in Owerri.
“We planned for them and almost throughout the entire game, they were never a threat to our team. We were able to control the game from the beginning. It was unfortunate how the game ended. We were just focussed on the three points and we are thrilled we got it. It was a very good game from both sides but we subjected them to constant pressure almost throughout the game.”
While he was asked if he believed his boys could finish the season impressively, Amuneke was evasive but noted that he and his players would continue to work harder.
“Everything in line is possible but we know that nothing happens without hard work. We will continue to work harder and continue to see how we can grow as a team. We have a lot of young players in the team. Some of them just got their topflight breakthrough.
“We didn’t lose focus at the time of the controversies. We continued to do the same thing we have been doing and taking the game to them.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, turned the sod of the new Olympic-standard 25,000-capacity Bayelsa Stadium project at Igbogene, Yenagoa, as part of the activities marking the fifth anniversary of the Senator Douye Diri administration.
The former Nigerian leader performed the ground-breaking ceremony as Governor Diri restated his appeal to the federal government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), oil firms operating in the state and the private sector to join hands with his administration to develop sporting talents.
The Federal Government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) equally thumped up Governor Diri for initiating the project.
Dr. Jonathan expressed delight over the project, saying as a Bayelsan, he was duty bound to celebrate with the state government for the progress so far achieved.
He lauded Diri’s developmental strides, urging him not to rest on his laurels and that the contractor and the state government should ensure the project met the highest standards.
Jonathan also called on the state and federal governments to set up a sports fund to cater for sportsmen after their active days and encourage younger ones to be involved in sports.
He said: “This is my state and I have to celebrate with the government for the progress so far made. This is an iconic project that will develop the state. Please do not rest on your laurels as we want this stadium to meet the best standards.
“I am happy with the presence of relevant federal government officials. I hope they will guide the state well and support where necessary.
“As a country, we must have a fund to care for sportsmen. The federal and state government can think about it so that the younger generation will be interested in sports.
“I am happy that you gave a target of 24 months and I hope that by that time I will escort President Tinubu to Bayelsa to inaugurate it.”

Remo Stars coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, has rued his team’s 2-1 defeat against reigning champions Rangers International on match-day 24 of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League, noting that their hosts fought like a relegation-threatened team,
Rangers halted the Sky Blue Stars’ eight-game unbeaten run as well as six-game winning streak at the Cathedral on Sunday, thanks to goals from Saviour Isaac and Kingsley Maduforo.
Having lost the first leg 1-0 in Ikenne, Sunday’s win was more like taking their pound of flesh from Remo and the result sent the champions up to third in the table with 38 points.
Despite the defeat, Remo Stars still hold their eight-point gap at the top of the table but Ogunmodede feels the defeat was avoidable.
“It was a good game and I am happy we gave the spectators a good reason to come watch the match,” Ogunmodede said via 54footballX.
“Rangers had to fight for their life. They are the current champions and imagine displacing them. They fought so hard like a team battling relegation.
“We had our opportunities but didn’t take them. Rangers scored in the first half from a brilliant free-kick by Isaac Saviour. Then, just as we were starting to get back into the match in the second half, they scored their second goal, which boosted their confidence and helped them secure the win.
“We came here hoping for a win, but unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side, and we lost.”
His Rangers counterpart, Fidelis Ilechukwu insisted that his team were at their best defensively despite being ravaged by injuries.
“Remo stars, technically, tactically, attacking mentality were better than us in the game but we were better defensively and that is why I decided to go on counter and get the goals,” Ilechukwu said.
“We are happy with the three points. I knew it was going to be a tough game against the league leaders, the best team in Nigeria at the moment, so beating them and ending their unbeaten run, beating my friend, the assistant coach of the Super Eagles, is a big deal.
“We know ourselves already, I told them how important the game was. Remo Stars were on 48 points and we were on 35 points before the game. I told the players that winning this game will help us prove to ourselves, not to anyone else, that we can survive despite our injuries,” he added.
Remo Stars will hope to keep up their lead at the top when they return home to face Kwara United at home in a midweek game today.