Ex-Chairman Heartland FC Fires Back, Says Club Mgt Should Stop Blackmailing Him

Ex-Chairman Heartland FC Fires Back, Says Club Mgt Should Stop Blackmailing Him

By Admin

The intrigues, power play and leadership crises that has bedevilled Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, side Heartland following moves by the Governor Hope Uzodinma’s move to get to the root of the club’s problems and to install a new management took a sickening twist on Tuesday when the current management issued a statement accusing erstwhile chairman, Hon. Chief Goodfaith Etuemena of several infractions including financial impropriety, Orient Sports reports.

In a statement issued by Solomon Onu, media director of the club, Etuemena was alleged to have refused to officially hand over to his successors appointed by previous governor, Emeka Ihedioha.

The club equally querried the disappearance of €15, 000 in the club’s domiciliary account, withholding documents and proceeds from the club’s partnership and sponsorship deals with Dana Airline, Boluspor FC, Turkey as well as proceeds from the international sales of the duo of Francis Momoh (Grasshoppers, Switzerland) and Francis Eze.

But the former Heartland boss took time out on Thursday washed his hands clean from the allegations, saying they are fabricated smear campaign of calumny to tarnish his hard earned football administrative reputation.

In a statement dated June 4, 2020 which he personally signed, Etuemena who is called ‘Digital Chairman’ during his reign as Heartland FC Supremo, urged his successors to face their task and stop engaging in blackmail against him.

He picked the allegations one after the other as he presented what he called ‘verifiable facts’ to put records straight.
“My attention has been drawn to a press release being circulated purportedly, by the incumbent Management Team of Heartland Football Club wherein a lot of false allegations were made against my person”, Etuemena fired back.

“The press release which although, was not signed by any particular officer of the club and which was also not put on the Heartland FC’s official letter-head, among other things, accused me of failing to do proper hand-over after I was removed as Chairman of Heartland FC about a year ago.