By Our Correspondent

The crisis rocking Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL side, Heartland Football Club of Owerri, Imo State got messier on Saturday morning after they were locked out of a hotel in Owerri, along Uratta Road, Owerri North after Failing to clear their outstanding debt of N700k, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

It was gathered that the management of the hotel took the drastic decision which left the players of Heartland FC stranded before traveling to honour their away matchday 25 game against Wikki Tourist of Bauchi.

The hotel management however said that the club is owing them approximately N700,000 for the players foods and hotel room fees. The players of Heartland FC were seen inside the hotel premises stranded under lock and keys.

However, when contacted, the media Officer of the Club said the report is untrue adding that the players and officials of the team were not chased out from any hotel.

He noted that the club left Owerri for Kaduna, venue of their match on Saturday.

Also responding, the owner of the hotel, Emmanuel Oparanozie debunked the report adding that he nor any other person arrived out such act. Mr Oparanozie said that before the team departed for Kaduna on Saturday he prayed for them. “I did not lock player out. They left for Kaduna this morning and I prayed for them. If they are owing me, how would I pray for them? I prayed for them and wished them well, ” he said.

Heartland, five-time winners of the NPFL have been engulfed in seemingly intractable crises that have affected in no small measures, the club’s fortune in the league. The club have suffered crises of paucity of fund, incompetent management and player transfer ban recently.

The Naze Billionaires are 18th on the 2022 NPFL log with 24 points from 24 matches. They will face Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in matchday 25 on Monday.