Ilorin – Both Kwara United FC of Ilorin and Heartland FC of Owerri, will be looking forward to consolidating on their good start to the 2014/2015 Glo Premier League season as they lock horns on Sunday, April 19, in Ilorin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the week four encounter is billed for the Kwara Stadium complex.
NAN also reports that the hosts, Kwara United, opened there season with a goalless draw away to embattled Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt and recorded a resounding 2-1 victory over El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in week two in Ilorin.
The Harmony Boys, as Kwara United is newly-called, continued its fine start to the new season with another 1-1 draw away to Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in week three, coming back from a goal down to force their hosts to the draw.
Heartland FC on the other hand could not partake in the week one fixtures as a result of an armed robbery attack on the bus of Kano Pillars, while on their way to honour the fixture in Owerri.
The Naze Millionaire travelled to Ibadan in week two to pick the maximum three points at stake, beating 3SC 2-1 at the Adamasingba stadium.
Heartland recorded its second victory in the new season in a 7-goal thriller in Owerri, thrashing Nasarawa United 5-2.
Speaking on the Sunday fixture, the assistant coach of Kwara United, Jimoh Balogun, said his team was in high spirits and would beat Heartland in Ilorin hands down.
He said the technical crew was happy to have a pool of players to choose from, adding that injured Bobga Sambo is back in contention for a place in the squad on Sunday.
Balogun said Kabiru Ayinde, who was injured at the start of the season, was now back, while hinting that the Harmony Boys fans may see new faces such as Nasiru Sanni and Victor Dennis, both from Katsina United.
He told NAN that former Nigerian International Olufemi Oladapo was out due to injury, alongside John Chukwudi, one of the players who fired the Harmony Boys back to the elite division last season.
Balogun said they were both a few weeks away from resuming full training, adding that Chukwudi was now working in the gym to step up his recovery.
In a telephone interview with NAN, Heartland’s Team Manager (TM), Tonex Chukwue, said his team was coming to Ilorin to take the three points at stake.
He added that the aim of the club in entering every competition was to win and win always.
Chukwu said that his team was in fine shape and form to go everywhere in the country and pick points.
NAN recalls that the last time Kwara United played in the Glo Premier League, it recorded a double over Heartland, beating the Naze Millionaires in Owerri 1-0 and another 1-0 victory in Ilorin in the 2012/2013 season. (NAN)