Heartland FC
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| Full name | Heartland Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Soccer Scientists, Spartans, Naze Millionaires, Hearts |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Ground |
Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri, Imo, Nigeria |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| Chairman | Goodfaith Etuemena |
| Manager | Ramson Madu |
| League | Nigeria National League |
| 2016 | 18th (relegated) |
Heartland FC (formerly known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale 1985–06) is a Nigerian football club based in Owerri. They play their home games at Dan Anyiam Stadium. Until their 18th place showing and relegation in 2016, they were one of two teams in the top flight that had never been relegated.
Founded as Spartans FC, they won the Nigerian championship three years running from 1988–90. [1]. Their first international (friendly) match was against Ararat Yerevan of the USSR which Spartans won 2–0 at the Township Stadium, Tetlow Road, Owerri, in August 1976.
November 1985: Spartans FC renamed Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC following a successful change of ownership from Imo State Government to chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
January 1986: Iwuanyanwu Nationale embark on a 3-week training tour of Brazil. The club finished runner-up of Nigerian top league.
1987: Iwuanyanwu Nationale emerged as League winners ahead of Leventis United on goal difference. They later went on to represent Nigeria in CAF Champions Cup.
1988: Iwuanyanwu Nationale repeat as League champions as well as winning Nigerian FA Cup for first time, beating Flash Flamingoes of Benin in cup final 3–0. Reach CAF Champions Cup final, winning 1–0 in first leg tie in Ibadan, losing 4–0 in Constantine, Algeria in return leg versus Entente Setif.
1989: Retain League title but lost FA Cup following 0–1 loss in final to BCC Lions.
1990: Iwuanyanwu Nationale beat Stationery Stores of Lagos in Lagos in professional League's commemorative game 2–1. Nationale went on to emerge first pro league winners in Nigeria.
1991: Nationale lose League title to Julius Berger, crash out of CAF Champions Cup to Nakivubo of Uganda in semi-final.
1993: Club regain League title following a 2–0 away victory over El-Kanemi Warriors in last league fixture to edge out Bendel Insurance to the title race.
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