Wikki shock Heartland
by Humphrey Njoku 07 January 2012, 22:04
Heartland started their 2011/2012 NPL season campaign on a losing note to newcomers, Wikki Tourists in Bauchi on Saturday.
Wikki's nailing lone goal scored by Victor Yakubu came in the 24th minute of the match.
Heartland had gone to Bauchi determined to shake off the tag of bad travellers that saw them play last season without an away win finishing 11th best.
The victory is a huge morale boost to returnee and former coach of Niger Tornadoes and Kano Pillars, Isa Ladan Bosso, who vowed to position his wards for the league title contest.
Heartland's Dutch technical adviser, Lodewijk de Kruif is still holidaying while coach Ramson Madu took charge of proceeding.
Madu told SuperSport.com that his wards lost the game to fatigue occasioned by the alteration of the match fixture.
"It was a good match expected of league opener.
"The change in the match date which saw the match brought forward to Saturday instead of Sunday and which made us travel on Friday to Jos en route to Bauchi affected us badly.
"I will say that fatigue was our major problem.
"We played well to earn our name, we still faced the problem of not having our regulars available for the match.
"Most of them are still in the Super Eagles, some on trials while others were not comfortable with the sudden change in travelling arrangement.
"However, we are not making excuses because I am sure we will bounce back to winning ways," he said.
The Owerri-based side will still be on the road at Sunshine Stars for match day two next Sunday in Ijebu Ode.