Heartland assistant coach Charles Uzor has insisted that his team will not surrender in their fight to remain in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) next season, despite their precarious position in the relegation zone.
Following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Abia Warriors on Matchday 30 in Owerri, Uzor addressed the media in place of technical manager Emmanuel Amuneke, who was unavailable to speak.
The assistant coach remained defiant about Heartland’s chances of survival.
“We will not give up—no, we will not give up,” Uzor said. “We will fight until the last minute because I believe it is not over until it is truly over.”
Struggles continue for heartland
Heartland’s poor form has left them in 17th place, with relegation looming large.
The team has failed to secure a win in their last five matches, collecting just two points from a possible 15.
Their most recent setback against Abia Warriors further complicated their bid for survival.
With the league season reaching its crucial stages, Heartland faces a pivotal clash against Sunshine Stars on Matchday 31.
The fixture, originally set for Akure, will now be played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, a neutral venue.
Uzor calls for mental toughness
Acknowledging the difficult task ahead, Uzor emphasized the importance of mindset and determination.
“Yes, it’s a neutral ground, and they’re struggling too,” he noted. “We’re now in the red zone, so it won’t be an easy game—we know that. We’ll go there and fight. We have to give it our all.”
He also pointed to player mentality as a key factor in the club’s survival bid.
“Like I said, it all comes down to attitude. The main problem with this generation of players is attitude. We pray that on that day, the players will be in the right frame of mind. I believe that, even though we lost at home today, we can still get a positive result there.”
With just a few matches left in the season, Heartland’s future in the NPFL remains uncertain.
However, Uzor’s determination suggests that the team is ready to fight until the very end to retain their top-flight status.
