The newly appointed Technical Adviser of Heartland, Emmanuel Deutsch has revealed he has picked 24 players after a weeklong strenous screening exercise, Completesportsnigeria.com  reports. The names of the selected players were not handy at press time despite revelation by the Media Officer of the Naze Millionaires, Solomon Onu that it would be made available on Thursday. "It is not yet an automatic place in the evolving Heartland team for the selected 24," informs assistant coach, Ezekiel Onyegbula.

"Instead, this represents the technical crew's first draft cut as we tinker to get the best legs available." He further disclosed that Heartland are still open for any exceptionally gifted players. The team will move into a concentration camp at the National Sports Commission, NSC Zone 6, in Mbaise, Imo State for preparation ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria National League, NNL, which kicks off next January.

Coach Deutsch's lieutenant praised the commitment and professionalism of some of the older players who have been working extremely hard in training and charged them to do more in the days ahead, insisting that there is no substitute for hard work.