Heartland Hopes To Retain Federation Cup Title

The Captain of Heartland FC of Owerri, Chinedu Efugh has said that the club was working hard to retain the Federation Cup it won in 2011 and 2012.

Heartland will today, meet non-league side, Ingas FC of Enugu, in the round of 32.

Efugh told newsmen that Heartland had completed preparation to overcome its opponent in the round, stressing that it would not underrate Ingas.

Ingas had on June 11 eliminated 9-man national league side, Ranchers Bees of Kaduna 2-1 at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, to progress into the round of 32.

“The fact that we are going to meet a non-league club does not mean we are going to underrate the club.

Ingas, for your information, defeated a national league side to move to the next round.

“We are ready to give it the best shot; we have been in camp for the last four days in Onitsha.

“We are seriously working hard; we still want to defend the trophy. We are training hard for this, and I believe that we will get the desired result.

“We want to win this title three times straight; we want to be the first club to do that in the country.

“We know it is not going to be easy, but we believe we can achieve it. We want to set a record, there is a lot at stake for us as the defending champions,’’ Efugh said.

Heartland defeated Lobi Stars of Markurdi 2-1 to clinch the title last year at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The national preliminaries of the Federation’s Cup will hold in four centres – Lagos, Port Harcourt, Bauchi and Lokoja – from yesterday to the 28th of this month.