Heartland on verge of glory
Heartland on verge of glory
Posted: 2009-11-07 11:59
Heartland have to avoid defeat against TP Mazembe today in Lubumbashi to become only the second Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League and their coach has been expressing his confidence that pressure will only bring out the best in his players.
Heartland managed a slim 2-1 win at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri on Sunday, but a lone strike by TP Mazembe this weekend would effectively kill off their cup dreams on the away goals rule.
However, Heartland coach Kelechi Emeteole has insisted that this pressure can only be good for his team.
“We have been in a similar situation [vs Cotonsport] before and still wriggled out of it. I agree that we have our backs to the wall but that is when you see the best of Heartland," predicted Emeteole.
“The heavy downpour [In the first leg final] slowed us down but we were still able to snatch a win. For the return leg, we hope it does not rain and, more importantly, the home team will be under pressure and we’ll have the opportunity to easily score the goals we need to win the cup."
This will be the fourth clash between the two teams this year and Mazembe will be slight favourites, as they have only lost once at the 35,000-capacity Municipal Stadium in this year's competition.
They beat their Nigerian foes 2-0 at home in a group game earlier this year.
A CAF Champions League winners' medal for Mazembe, winners in 1967 and 1968, will end a 41-year drought in the continent's premier club competition and be a fitting reward for the huge investment made by club president Moise Katumbi, who also doubles as Governor of the copper-rich Katanga Province.
In Tresor Mputu Mabi and Kaluyitikua Dioko, Mazembe have the most potent striking pair in the competition with 15 goals between them and backed by their local fans, Heartland should be in for the match of their lives.
TP Mazembe coach Diego Garzitto, a Frenchman of Italian descent, is counting heavily on the fans for total support to spur them to victory.
“We have all to play for now in the return leg and with the fans behind us; we should be able to win at home. I can just tell Heartland to wait for another year for the cup. This one is ours at least this year,” declared Garzitto.
Egypt's Al Ahly are the defending champions after they beat Cotonsport of Cameroon 4-2 on aggregate in last year’s final.
This year's winner of the CAF Champions League will pocket $1.5million and a ticket to represent Africa at the FIFA World Club Championship, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates in December.
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