Amuneke nears Heartland exit door after FA Cup exit

Owerri-based Heartland FC head coach Emmanuel Amuneke is seemingly closer than ever to the team’s exit door following their elimination from this year’s Imo State FA Cup.

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Sports247 gathered in Owerri that Amuneke has been under fire since he failed to lead Heartland back to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this season.

There is also growing discontent over his lack of results since he took over as coach of the club, after receiving generous support from the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.

With mounting allegations of shady dealings and distractions of “personal preferences” also dogging him, Amuneke’s survival appeared to depend on him winning this year’s Imo State Presidential Federation Cup.

Unfortunately, Heartland could only draw 1-1 in Friday’s semifinal with Campos Football Academy, who then punched a ticket to the final 5-3 on penalties.

In this weekend’s final scheduled for the state capital, Campos will dance with OISA Football Academy, who defeated Okpotemba FC 2-1 in the second semi-final on Friday, leaving Heartland empty in terms of honors this year.

Sports247 had earlier reported during a visit to Owerri that pressure was mounting on the state’s football association, as well as the Ministry of Sports, to dispense with Amuneke’s services.

Surprisingly, however, a leading Owerri sports broadcaster, Kennedy Onwunali, who played grassroots football while growing up in Lagos, rose to Amuneke’s defence.

Onwunali (Mark Fish) stated in a voice chat with Sports247 that the former Super Eagles winger and 1994 African Footballer of the Year is not under any pressure.

“Some evil people are trying to fight him. Please ask about some of these things so they don’t look down on you.

“The people who tell you all those things about Heartland are all liars. I’m sure they can’t repeat those things if I’m there,” said the kindly announcer.