The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has announced a date change for the matchday 13 fixture between Heartland and Enugu Rangers, Afrosport reports.
The encounter, which is famously tagged “The Oriental Derby,” was initially scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 24, but will now take place a day earlier on Saturday, November 23.
This new development can be linked to the ordeals suffered by Heartland on their return from the matchday 12 fixture against Kano Pillars last weekend.
The Naze Millionaires made the announcement of the date change on their social media on Thursday.
“Due to the directive from the NPFL, also putting into consideration the wellbeing of the players, our Oriental derby clash with Rangers hitherto fixed for Sunday November 24 will now take place a day earlier on Saturday November 23rd at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri,” Heartland wrote on X.
“We regret all the inconveniences and appeal to the fans for support in the game.”
— Heartland FC (@HeartlandFC_ng) November 21, 2024
The Owerri-based club will host NPFL defending champions Rangers at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
Another Oriental derby is upon us. We are poised to put the Flying Antelopes to the sword at our fortress in Owerri this weekend.
We are the Naze Millionaires! pic.twitter.com/p9lvnm4oMt
— Heartland FC (@HeartlandFC_ng) November 20, 2024
Heartland are 10th in the NPFL standings with 16 points from their opening 12 games, while Rangers sit in fourth place with 19 points after the same number of games played.
