Chinedu Amadi, Vice President, Landmark Sports & Entertainment Promotions Limited, has showered encomiums on former Chairman of Heartland Football Club of Owerri, Late Chief Ignatius Okeahialam over what he described as his ‘huge impact as football administrator’.
The Late Okeahialam, who was widely known as a successful football administrator during his time with Heartland FC will be laid to rest in his home town, Mbaise on 5 April, 2024.
Amadi told Silvernews.com.ng that the Late Okeahialam helped his career, adding that the ex Heartland boss was responsible for the rise and progress of many players.
Okeahialam was passionate about the “Welfare and growth of his players” on and off the football pitch”, Amadi noted.
“His strategic plan for Heartland FC was second to none. He turned Naze, Owerri North LGA into the hub for grooming the next batch of Heartland FC and Nigeria Super Eagles stars.
“Chief Okeahialam is a super entrepreneur. A man that has so much passion and invested in players. He always look inwards and redefined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through Youth development and football. If you go across Mbaise, you will see young players training hard to be the best because he created the enabling environment for young players, especially U-17 to showcase their skills which ultimately led to the best ones getting called up for trials with Heartland FC and Nigeria U17 National team..
“I worked with him very closely. He saw me as a young person and gave me the opportunity. He gave me an overview with which we worked. Then everybody believed in winning.
“I was engaged and retained by Heartland from 2008 to 2010 and in those years, we played in the CAF Champions League back-to-back (2009 and 2010). We must have to honour him. He inspired me not to look down on any of the younger ones and gave me an overview on how he wants Heartland FC to achieve success and my job was to put the finishing touches.
“The strategic partnership between Nigeria FA and Zambia FA was the first of it’s kind in CAF with the signing of Zambian U20 National team striker, Signs Wonders Chibambo in 2008.
“Okeahialam was a great chairman and I wish the family all the best”, Amadi said.
