By Ime Bassey

The directive by the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) requesting Heartland FC of Owerri to honour  their rescheduled Week 33 match against Kaduna United have been turned by the Owerri side citing the worsening security situation in the city as reason for their refusal.

Making this known to Inside Out Premier League in a letter signed by the Heartland FC players and forwarded to the management of the club  during the week shortly before the team’s game against Enyimba FC of Aba, the players stated their fears as touching their personal safety due to the current wave of  violence in the state which has claimed many lives.

Confirming the letter, media officer of the team, Cajetan Nkwopara said that the management of the club has communicated the development to the NPL.

The NPL had on Wednesday instructed Heartland FC to proceed to Kaduna this weekend for the game and that on arrival, the club should contact the Kaduna State FA for security.

However, the players rejected the idea because they would have to pass through many volatile and insecure Kaduna towns and cities before gaining access to the metropolis where they can now begin to contact the state FA for security.