by osamahlawy Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:44 pm
NEWSThe battle is not over – Heartland coach Emetole Heartland coach Kelechi Emetole insists the battle for a place at the finals of this season’s Orange Champions League is far from over.
Despite a 4-0 thrashing of fellows Kano Pillars in the semi-final first leg clash last Sunday in Owerri, the veteran trainer has charged his players to go all out and scale over all obstacles that will seek to prevent them from laying their hands on the $1,500,000 prize-money.
Emetole, one of the revered technical brains in his native and guided Enyimba to their first ever Nigerian Premier League title in 2002 is currently on cloud nine after a spectacular first half performance powered his side to the infamous victory over their compatriots.
“I was very impressed with the performance of my team. I never thought we could score four goals past Pillars though I was sure of victory.
“My only headache was the output in the second half where we allowed our opponents to play their game,” Emetole told the media after game.
A first half brace each from Emeka Nwanna and Uche Agba was enough to power the Naze Millionaires into the emphatic win in the first ever derby clash involving two clubs from Africa’s most populous country in the history of the continental club championship.
However, the veteran trainer who has had stints with Nigerian premier league outfits like Bendel Insurance and El Kanemi Warriors is a believer of the ‘football is full uncertainties’ theory as his side trek the Northern Nigerian city of Kano this weekend for the return encounter.
“Despite the heavy win from the first leg, it is not over yet. In football, anything can happen.
“We still have 90 minutes to play to know our fate, and I have warned my players against becoming swollen headed. We shouldn’t allow the result get into our heads.”
The Naze Millionaires, formerly called Iwuanyanwu Nationale are eyeing their first continental triumph after losing out to Entente Setif of Algeria in the 1988 final of the premier club competition.