New General Manager of Heartland FC, Prince Okechukwu Ibe has instituted a regime of instant payment of match bonuses to players and officials as an important way of encouraging performance.
To this effect, the club has cleared the three match bonuses representing the victories over Rangers International FC of Enugu, Akwa Utd FC of Uyo and Bayelsa Utd of Yenegoa all of which were won by Heartland FC after Ibeh had assumed office.
The former central defender while speaking to journalists after the away victory in Benin, Edo State against Bayelsa Utd on Sunday said, “I want to encourage my players so that they can go ahead and win every game in sight. “My job here is to get them to win and my target is to return Heartland FC to the continent where it would be second to none. If I don’t motivate them, there’s no way they can feel happy to give me their best and the little we can do at the moment is by way of match bonuses so I have to give it to them immediately after they had won.“At least I was once a player myself and I know what it takes to motivate young players. By the time I begin to unveil my package for the team people will marvel at what success we’ll achieve.”
Ibe was excited at the 4-3 victory which his boys earned over hard-fighting Bayelsa Utd in Benin but cautions that jubilations over one won match must not becloud the task that lies ahead.“Of course I’m happy for the way my boys played and won this game. It was a game that stretched two days and still they won convincingly despite all the antics of the home side. I think we have cause to celebrate but I will tell my players that they don’t have to over celebrate because we have two more important matches before the break. If they can give me victory in those matches, I assure you I will be very happy,” he stated.
