NPFL: Amuneke thrilled over Heartland's victory over Sunshine Stars as Akure club hunt for Boboye’s successor
Heartland technical adviser Emmanuel Amuneke has expressed excitement following the team’s victory over Sunshine Stars.
The Naze Millionaires defeated Sunshine Stars 1-0 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri on Sunday.
The Owerri club are now unbeaten in their last three league games.
“Let’s first savour the joy of today’s win against Sunshine Stars,” he told the media after the keenly contested encounter.
“Let us enjoy the moment and then we’ll start to look at the Kano Pillars game. We’ll also assess the players; look at those who are likely to be available.”
Meanwhile, Sunshine have pencilled down the names of their former coach Deji Ayeni, former Katsina United gaffer Tony Bulus, and erstwhile 3SC handler Festus Allen, one of which will replace Kennedy Boboye, who resigned on Sunday.
Boboye left his role as coach of the team in the wake of their 1-0 loss to Heartland during a matchday 11 encounter in Owerri on Sunday.
The club are poised to appoint a new coach before their next game against Lobi Stars on Sunday following the sudden resignation.
“We will announce a new coach before Saturday. We have pencilled three names, which are Deji Ayeni, Festus Allen, and Tony Bulus. We know it won’t be easy, but we have to appoint a substantive coach,” a board member said.
Boboye rejoined Sunshine Stars before the end of last season, marking his second stint with the club after almost leading them to a continental finish in 2015.
He guided the club out of relegation in the 2023/24 season, but they have had mixed fortunes under him this season.
After 11 matches, they sit 14th in the NPFL table, having won just four, drawn one and lost six matches.
The two-time NPFL-winning coach left his role off the back of three straight defeats, citing undue interference in his job by the Chairman of the Ondo State Football “This season, my role became increasingly difficult as club executives, who lack technical coaching experience, began overstepping by directing my backroom staff on player selection decisions. When Sunshine Stars lose, they are the first to assign blame,” Boboye said via Flashscore.
“If I had faced this kind of interference at my previous clubs, I doubt I would have won the NPFL title twice. I wish them all the best moving forward.”
