Heartland FC technical adviser and former Nigerian international, Emmanuel Amunike has spoken in support of the training schedule for the CHAN Eagles as they prepare for the African Nations Championship CHAN), qualifiers against Ghana.

The 1994 AFCON winner emphasized that this training setup is not new, explaining that similar approaches were used in the past.

According to Amunike, rotating between club matches and national team training sessions allows players to stay competitive and fit.

The CHAN Eagles are gearing up for a two-legged qualifier against Ghana in December with the winner of this fixture securing a spot in the 2025 CHAN tournament, set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The team started training last week, with players returning to their clubs for weekend matches and resuming national team training each week.

Discussing the arrangement on No Holds Barred with Ifeanyi Udeze, Amunike said, “Before our football rise, that was the trend, and it really helped our football a lot.

“When you have a player who is just training and not competing, how do you assess such players? It’s good for the young players; the coaches know what they are doing.”

“It’s not a bad thing, and we should encourage it.”

Amunike believes this structure not only keeps players match-ready but also benefits their development under the guidance of both club and national coaches.