Ineligible Player may Eliminate Heartland

By Norbert Okolie in Enugu
Despite humiliating Liberian Black Stars by 4 - 0 in the first leg, preliminary round of CAF Champions League at Owerri — Nigeria, Heartland FC might be eliminated from the competition by default, GoalNigeria.com reports exclusively.
Investigations by GoalNigeria.com revealed that Heartland fielded an ineligible player (names withheld) who was alleged to have moved over to the ‘Naze Millionaires’ from neighbours, Enugu Rangers International without proper clearance.

The investigation further revealed that the Liberians have got wind of this and have been making frantic effort to corroborate the news with concrete evidence so as to file a protest against Heartland with CAF.

A Rangers’ official who confirmed the development exclusively to GoalNigeria.com, but pleaded anonymity, said that a Liberian official called the club to ascertain the truth in the story, ‘but of course he was rebuffed’.

The Rangers’ official added, however, that Heartland were now making concerted effort to regularize and pay the N4 million transfer fee of the player who, though sat out the duration of the game on the bench.

In reaction, Heartland’s Media Officer, Cajetan Nkwopara denied any wrong doing and said to GoalNigeria.com: “There is no truth in that allegation because the Liberians who are still in Owerri are very happy with us as they have been playing friendly games with some teams here (in Owerri).

“They might even play a friendly game with us before travelling back. The player was not improperly cleared. The Nigeria Football Federation gave him a temporal clearance to play for us pending when we resolve financial terms with his old club, Rangers.

“So, I believe that this is an unfounded rumor by those just trying to destabilize our resolve to represent the nation well in the CAF Champions league.”