Heartland will go for a win in Congo, says Iroha

Heartland FC remain confident of winning this year's CAF Champions League title at the expense of TP Mazembe, the 2-1 slim victory score line they achieved in their first-leg encounter against the team from the Democratic Republic of Congo notwithstanding.

This was the position of Heartland's assistant coach, former Super Eagles defender, Benedict Iroha, during a telephone interview. He insisted that the Owerri-based club won't be playing for anything other than an outright win when they step on the playing pitch of the Stade Municipal in Lubumbashi on Saturday.

Iroha, who was disappointed that his side were only able to pull off a slim victory over the Congo DR clubside in last weekend's match at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri, said: "We can't be playing for a draw just because we won 2-1 at home as that will be suicidal. Agreed that the result could have been better but we won at home and that is what we are also aiming to do in Congo."

Iroha then went on to talk about the motivating factor for the squad as the team gets set to jet out of Nigeria for Kinshasa today.

"The players are all in high spirits," he said. "They know what is at stake here and know that they may not get another chance to win the Champions League."

Mission to Abu Dhabi

Besides claiming a first continental title if they defeat TP Mazembe on Saturday, as well as the accompanying $1.5 million top prize, Heartland have an even greater motivation to become African club champions, as the winner of the tie will represent the continent at next month's FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Up for grabs in the UAE is a star prize of $5 million for the eventual winners and $4 million for the losing finalists. Even the fifth-placed side at the end of the championship gets to go home with $1.5 million, and Heartland want a chunk of the $16.5 million total prize money.

"Winning the Champions League will be a fantastic achievement for us," continued the former Super Eagles defender, "but we also want to be in Abu Dhabi.

"Some of the best clubs in the world will be there. So much will be at stake and it won't be a bad idea to win some of the money at stake. I can just imagine what the club can do with all that money."