Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has denied reports making round in the media that Heartland FC players are set to boycott their next league match over unpaid salaries.
Ilechukwu was quoted in one of the dailies published on Tuesday that players want to embark on a protest and also boycott the MatchDay 28 game against Oriental Derby rivals, FC Ifeanyi Ubah.
When asked to respond to the reports, the former MFM FC boss, stated that the report is an attempt to distract his boys ahead of the game, but before denying ever granting such an interview.
He said: “This is just another fake news, a cheap means to distract my team and fuel unnecessary tension in Owerri.
“Let me state clearly that the players under my watch will never go on such protest or boycott any NPFL game. How would a Sports Journalist cook such a story when there is security challenges in the South East, let alone boycott an NPFL game.
“For record purposes, I did not grant such interview with any reporter on Monday or had a chat with anyone on the social media platform, WhatsApp. I have taken time to go through the call log on phone and chats, no number of such from the reporter that claimed to have interviewed me.
Ilechukwu adds, “I understand what the players are agitating for as I have maintained,
“Like every other team in the NPFL have their challenges and that of Heartland is no different. So all hands would be on deck to proffer solutions to them as we move on,” he concluded.
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