Heartland to offload 14, eyes nine new players

HEARTLAND of Owerri is planning to sell 14 of its players while retaining 22 from the squad that won the Federation Cup recently.In a release by the club yesterday, its general manager, Fan Ndubuoke, during a meeting with players, coaches and the management staff announced that the decision was taken with a view to taking the team back to the summit of African football.Heartland finished the 2009/2010 season as the second best team in Africa, and the slump last season, according to Ndubuoke, was not acceptable to the management. The statement, signed by the club's media officer, Cajetan Nkwopara, also quoted Ndubuoke as revealing the club's desire to hire nine new players to plug the loopholes in the team, which will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup next year.Speaking further, Ndubuoke explained that the 14 players asked to look for clubs elsewhere next season included those whose productivity were considered below average by the club's coaches, those with disciplinary problems and those whose nature of last contract ran contrary to the guidelines issued by the management.The names of the affected players were not made public as at press time, but Ndubuoke wished them success in their future endeavours, while also tasking those retained to put in their best in the service of the club and also to be of good behaviour.Meanwhile, the club has announced Sunday, December 11, as resumption date for training for both old and new players. Before yesterday's meeting, the players had been on break for about two weeks, while the coaches used the opportunity to try out new players.
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