NPFL: Heartland FC Cry Foul Over Nnoshiri’s “Disappearance”

Heartland FC has accused fellow NPFL side Katsina United of borderline fraud, alleging the club failed to “follow due process” in their “alleged” acquisition of midfielder Samuel Nnoshiri.

Nnoshiri came through the ranks at Heartland before switching to Katsina United in the middle of the current season and scored in the 5-1 evisceration of Wikki Tourists on matchday 20 on Sunday.

Despite having played multiple games for Wikki Tourists since he was first declared AWOL, Heartland insists Nnoshiri remains under contract with them “and as such is ineligible to play” for any other club.

Katsina United would have had to register the player with the League Management Company before fielding him but Heartland insists any such registration would be fraudulent since Nnoshiri was never transferred to Katsina in the first place.

The Owerri club says it has written to the Nigeria Football Federation and the LMC over the issue and the club “will stop at nothing until we achieve redress”.

A statement credited to Heartland FC licensing officer Nze Tonnex Chukwu said Nnoshiri remains registered with the club who have paid his “clearance fee and salaries/bonuses paid up to date before his disappearance.”

“Heartland is worried that due process was not followed such as placing the club on notice nor did Katsina Utd contact us,” the statement reads.

“We remain resolute in seeking justice and can ill afford to lose a player in whom we have invested so much.

“Heartland wishes to also alert any club playing Katsina United that Samuel Nnoshiri was not duly transferred to them, and as such is ineligible to play. Consequently, Heartland requests the dispute resolution mechanism of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to ensure that justice is not only done but is seen to have been done. Heartland has endured a torrid moment induced by Covid-19 and FIFA imposed transfer ban and can ill afford to lose a player in whom we have invested so much.

“Finally Heartland wishes to state our resolve not to have anybody, club or organisation shortchange us.

“Nnoshiri is our player, we have written to the authorities and will stop at nothing until we achieve redress.”