Tragedy struck Heartland FC on Friday when their team bus was involved in a road accident while en route to Abakaliki for the Ifeanyi Ekwueme TICO/SELECT Pre-Season Tournament. The incident occurred at Umunna, near Okigwe, in Imo State, when the driver swerved to avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle, only to crash into a stationary car involved in a separate accident.
In a statement, the club confirmed that "fortunately, no fatalities were reported, but some players and officials sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment." The news has sent shockwaves through the football community, with Enyimba FC leading the tributes.
"Enyimba FC is deeply saddened to hear about the accident involving Heartland FC... Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Heartland FC family, particularly those affected by this incident," Enyimba wrote on their X Page.
The club expressed solidarity with their counterparts, saying, "We commiserate with the players, officials, and supporters of Heartland FC during this challenging time. May the injured recover quickly and fully." This incident comes just two weeks after Governor Hope Uzodinma unveiled former Super Eagles star Emmanuel Amuneke as the Technical Manager of Heartland Football Club, casting a shadow over the team's preparations for the new season.