“A month after I was appointed as Heartland coach, I was asked to leave under strange circumstances, despite having turned the club’s fortunes around. The Imo State government wanted the reinstatement of the late Christian Obi—may his soul rest in peace,” Boboye said.

“I left without any issues, but they have refused to pay my outstanding wages after terminating my contract. It’s been almost a year now, and they seem unwilling to resolve it.

“I have reliable information that they have settled the debts owed to former players and coaches, but mine remains an exception.

“Coach Emmanuel Amuneke reached out to me, suggesting I hold off for a while. Meanwhile, Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Musa Gusau mentioned that he would be granting Heartland a two to three-month waiver.

“I’ve lost my patience, and I believe the best course of action is to proceed with my original plan to take legal action against Heartland, as this is clearly a breach of contract.

“It’s unfair that I’ve been unable to support my family and manage my medical bills, as my former employers have effectively put my life on hold for the past 11 months.”

What’s more, at the time of publishing this article, Heartland management has not responded.

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Michael Olunga return a big boost for Kenya vs Cameroon

“With Olunga in the starting XI, Cameroon goalkeeper Andre (Onana) will feel the heat. Olunga is a very powerful player, you saw how the team struggled minus him when they played Zimbabwe and Namibia,” Aduda said.

“Without Olunga, we already knew the results in the opening matches. Though it was an opportunity for others (the strikers in the team) to show what they could offer without Olunga, you could still feel his absence, you could see the body language of the players before the two games.

“Remember apart from being our lead striker, he is also the captain of the side, so you can imagine what he brings to the team, leadership qualities and goals. He is a threat whenever he plays, and for Olunga to score, he doesn’t need clearance from anywhere, he can score anytime, and that is why his return for the Cameroon double-header will be a big boost for Kenya.”

“The coach should use a formation whereby he can pair him (Olunga) with Sottish Premier League-based striker Ayunga to put more pressure on Cameroon’s defence. Their combination could prove a threat because they play in almost a similar way and with Olunga a threat from aerial balls, it will give Cameroon defenders a headache on whom to mark.

“Olunga’s agility to take on the defenders head-on could give Ayunga the opportunity and much-needed space to run behind him for any loose balls, it could help give Kenya the space to attack them (Cameroon). I would like to see the two paired together.”

Aduda cautioned Kenya’s defenders to be mindful of the danger posed by Carlos Baleba, a defensive midfielder for Brighton in the Premier League.

“Cameroon has a young sensation who plays for Brighton. He is on fire and Kenya defenders must work out ways to stop him, otherwise, he is the engine for the team, every good thing comes from him, he is a threat and it is good for Kenya players to stay alert.”

Aduda concluded, “Kenya needs creative midfielders to progress the ball from defence to attack quickly and create clear-cut chances for the strikers to finish the job.”

Maximum points
+3p
+1⚽️

Keep working pic.twitter.com/okozgzoClu

— MICHAEL OLUNGA (@OgadaOlunga) September 21, 2024

In a recent interview, Olunga expressed his disappointment at missing Kenya’s opening two qualifying matches.

“It was definitely tough for me watching from the sidelines because I always want to help my team as much as I can,” Olunga said.

“We had worked so hard with the medical team to try and see if I could make it even for one game, but it was impossible. However, I am glad we had some good results which put us in a good place heading to next month.”

On facing Cameroon, the former Girona forward said, “It’s going to be a big challenge, but I think we are capable of achieving something special. I’ve seen the work that the boys put in during the first two games, and we are in a strong position. With the right mentality, we can fight for positive results.”

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“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. On the court, he was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

https://t.co/IxwdTjX4EO pic.twitter.com/x6rNgWzUuG

— NBA (@NBA) September 30, 2024