Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma has unveiled ex-Nigerian International, Emmanuel Amuneke, as new Technical Adviser for the state-owned Heartland Football Club of Owerri.
Born on Christmas Day in 1970, the Coach is 53 years old.
Uzodinma made the appointment known at a ceremony on Monday, held at the Government House, Owerri, the State capital.
The Governor urged the former Super Eagles winger to surpass records set by past Coaches of the club and to ensure that Imo State returned to its rightful place in the Nigerian football space.
He further charged the new Coach to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the development and progress of Heartland FC in order to change the face of the club.
Responding, the new Technical Adviser expressed his desire and readiness to make the Club a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian football league.
Football enthusiasts believe that the unveiling of the former Super Eagles winger would restore the old glory of Heartland FC by putting it on top of the table in the coming season.
Amunike played for Zamalek, Sporting CP, Barcelona, and Albacete.
He played 27 times for Nigeria, scoring nine goals
Amunike played all of Nigeria’s games at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, scoring the winning goal in the final as the national team won the gold medal.
Knee problems kept him out of the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Amunike coached the Nigeria U17 national team to win the World Cup in 2015.
On 6th August 2018, he was appointed as the coach of the Tanzania national team.
He managed to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, but he resigned from training the team after losing all three games.
Amunike was appointed the manager of Egyptian Premier League club, Misr Lei Makkasa in February 2021.
He became Assistant Coach of the Nigeria national team in February 2022.
