Heartlands ThankGod Ike confident despite draw

Ike confident despite tough draw

Posted: 2010-05-14 19:47

Heartland captain ThankGod Ike says the team will make it to the semifinal of the CAF Champions League in spite of being drawn in the group of death.

Last year's finalists have been pooled in Group B with three former winners including 6-time winners Al Ahly, Morocco's JS Kabylie and Egypt's Ismaili.

Defender Ike admits that it is a tough draw.

"This is a more difficult draw than what we had last year," he told KickOffNigeria.com. "But we believe in ourselves and we know that if we win our home games and get at least one draw away from home, we will qualify."

Heartland are the only team out of the three in the group not to have won the competition but the big defender said that would be no hindrance.

"We have confidence in our team and we know that if we play our game, we can beat any team anywhere."

Heartland defeated SuperSport United 4-2 on aggregate to reach the group stages.

The other group has defending champions TP Mazembe, former winners Esperance and ES Setif along with Dynamos

CLICK HERE for the CAF Champions League fixtures.

Colin Udoh

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Recent Comments (27) :

oscar : 2010-05-14 20:01

Wow, this is really an unlucky group for Heartland. They really must work hard to be able to make it from this group.

Heartland, Nigerians are solidly behind you guys. We believe you can do it, so go out there with confidence. Nothing is impossible, Yes you can...

david: 2010-05-14 20:20

i believe in d nigerian spirit,and i am right behind heartland fc ,i see them playing in d semis as thankGod Ike rightly said.sorry my dear forumite for d deviation,JSK is an algerian club not Morocco as written in d above publication.up heartland,up nigeria.

choky: 2010-05-14 20:47

Go AHEAD MY BELOVED CLUB U CAN DO IT .

SANCHEZ: 2010-05-14 20:51

I believe Ismaili and Al Ahly are both Egyptian clubs, so how come they are in the same group. I dont know how CAF do their thing but its a bit odd. Anyway i wish Heartland the best of luck.

Bona: 2010-05-14 21:11

This is really a tough group for Hearthland but with hard work they will go through to semi final. The best of luck to them.

Kerewa: 2010-05-14 21:29

UWA ECHIEJILE joins list of Eagles injured stars:

Allnigeriasoccer can report that the Rennes defender,Uwa Echiejile is currently down with a hamstring injury.As a result,he was not selected for Rennes last match of the season against Boulogne,sources tell allnigeriasoccer.

The Stade Rennes defender may not be fit for the World Cup as it takes at least six weeks for a hamstring to heal,according to our experts.

Echiejile who was named in the Eagles 30 man party has not played a single match for Rennes this season because of differences with the Rennes gaffer,Frédéric Antonetti.

Kerewa: 2010-05-14 21:36

AMODU part of Nigeria's delegation to World Cup:

Nigeria's former head coach Shaibu Amodu has been included in the list of the Nigeria 32-member delegation to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the local press reported Thursday.

The report said however that no role was assigned to the coach, who qualified the Super Eagles for the World Cup before he was sacked for poor performance during January's Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.

Amodu was replaced by Swede Lars Lagerback and sent to head Nigeria's home-based Eagles.

Wonders shall never end in this we country.
Naija na waa

Philosopher : 2010-05-15 04:29

I dont beleif in anything like "group of death", the game of football is not what it use to be in the past. If heardland want to go far in that competition, they must put aside the fear of irrepective club they will be facing. I wish them all the best and i will keep praying for them.

coache: 2010-05-15 12:20

COUNTDOWN TO 2010: An Opponents View of LARS MIGHTY 30
I was delighted to see how Lars list was received by all and sundry. I am writting todays piece because I am a left sided player and forgive my prejudice when noticed. As far back as 1994, peeps complained so much about Ben Iroha's overlapping runs without cover. There were several debates on newspapers, Nigerian football ****yst and passionate SE supporters on who should provide cover when Iroha overlaps. Some school of thoughts opined Oliseh should cover up for him incase of counter attack. By and large a solution was found albeit if Iroha overlaps, Amuneke the Business man will cover up for him. The duo understood themselves and it paid off against Bulgaria before Ben was injured.

In such a scenario, it was easy for Amuneke to support Iroha with ease because he was a natural lefty. But nowadays, we expect Osaz or Edu to come back and support the left wing back. This tires them out completely and suffice to say that since 1994, no player has been found to replace Amuneke and even Lars has not helped matters. So as an opponent, I know for sure that the left side of the Nigerian team is a weakness and I can so strategize to make sure I exploit that to the fullest. Maradona may not be able to notice that, but I trust the Greek German coach might exploit that.

In my own 'opinionated' opinion, Stanley Okoro OR Aluko or worst still, little known Baba Collins(I am not his/an agent, I have seen his clips on tvgolo) of FC Madjitland could have been called upon to help in that department. So lets not blame Taiwo (but I trust Lars to make him positionally disciplined) when he overlaps without any proper cover up for him. A natural left sided midfielder in the Eagles squad would have been an icing on the cake for me. OTHERWISE, I CONCUR WITH FELLOW NIGERIANS THAT THE LIST IS GOOD, WHO MAKES THE FINAL 23 IS NOW THE QUESTION? OLOFINNEPA IS OUT, SO NO MUCH COMPLAINTS. BONNE CHANCE LARS, BONNE CHANCE SUPER EAGLES, BONNE CHANCE NIGERIA. I BELIEVE IN MA EAGLES.

Flex: 2010-05-15 13:31

Read this http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/15052010/58/world-cup-2010-countdown-nigeria-combat-chaos.html

Nwachinemere: 2010-05-15 14:50

Guys E Don Set Noh ENGLAND Don Reject Tamm Emm Don Remember Naija.
BBC SPORT AFRICA SATURDAY 15.MAY.2010.
MAN CITY´S NEDUM ONUOHA LEAVES DOOR OPEN FOR NIGERIA:
MANCHESTER CITY DEFENDER NEDUM ONUOHA HAS INSISTED HE HAS NOT RULED OUT PLAYING FOR NIGERIA:THE NIGERIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION HAD MADE IT KNOWN THAT ONOUHA REJECTED A REQUEST TO JOIN THEIR SQUAD FOR THIS SUMMER´S WORLD CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA: GUYS READ MORE FROM BBC AFRICAN SPORT:

Bola: 2010-05-15 14:56

Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has insisted he has not ruled out playing for Nigeria.

The Nigerian Football Federation had made it known that Onuoha rejected a request to join their squad for this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Onuoha has played for England Under-21s but can switch allegiances as he has not featured in senior internationals.

"I'd rather be first choice at my team first before I start an international career," Onuoha, 23, told Sky Sports.

Onuoha has yet to make up his mind about which country he would like to represent at senior level.

"As I say I want to sort out my club career first before thinking about my international career," he reiterated.

Onuoha was also surprised by they way the story has been reported.

"I said to the manager of Nigeria it wasn't the right time for me but from there there's been all sorts of outrage in Nigeria and, before that, people saying I'm turning my back on England," he added.

"But I am trying to get it to a point where I play enough games and play well enough for me to have the option to be selected by either. So I'd rather get to that position first before I start making a decision."

Onuoha dismissed reports that he had turned down Nigeria because he was waiting for a call-up from England manager Fabio Capello.

"I was in shock to be honest because that wasn't the case. That was never my reason for making the decision."

Asked if he might regret missing out on a chance to go to the World Cup, Onuoha replied: "I don't think it will be a moment of regret because I believe if I'm able to play to my potential and good fortune then in the future I will have another try at another World Cup and I'd be in better shape going into it because I'll be a better player and a better person and in a better position to be doing that."

Nwachinemere: 2010-05-15 15:05

BBC AFRICAN SPORT SATURDAY 15.May.2010.
MAN CITY´S NEDUM ONUOHA LEAVES DOOR OPEN FOR NIGERIA:
MANCHESTER CITY DEFENDER NEDUM ONUOHA HAS INSISTED HE HAS NOT RULED OUT PLAYING FOR NIGERIA:THE NIGERIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION HAD MADE IT KNOWN THAT ONUOHA REJECTED A REQUEST TO JOIN THEIR SQUAD FOR THIS SUMMER´S WORLD CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA:GUYS READ MORE FROM BBC SPORT AFRICA:

Nwachinemere: 2010-05-15 15:16

THIS GUY ONUOHA IS REALLY CRAZY HE IS 23yrs OLD NOW;THE NEXT WORLD CUP HE IS THEN 27YRS OLD AND THEN PEOPLE WILL START CRYING THAT HE IS TOO OLD;AND MAY BE HE DONT GET THIS CHANCE AGAIN;NOW THAT THE CHANCE IS THERE WHY DONT HE GRAB IT AND THEN STILL WAIT FOR NEXT ONE TO COME:GUY:TAKE THE ONE YOU SEE FIRST:NOBODY KNOWS TOMORROW MY GUY:

Nwachinemere: 2010-05-15 15:23

ONUOHA ONUOHA ONUOHA THE DOOR MAY NOT BE OPEN NEXT TIME;GRAB IT NOW WHEN YOU CAN;WORLD CUP DONT WAIT FOR ONE PERSON OR MADE TO WAIT FOR YOUR DECISION:I KNOW THAT THIS YOUR DECISION STUFF YOU JUST MAKE THAT ONE UP;ENGLAND REJECTED U PERIOD SO STOP ALL THIS BULL**** AND THINK STRAIGHT MAN:

oscar : 2010-05-15 15:44

Based on Onuoha, I think Nigeria is second to England, that is what he is trying to say. If England will not give him an opportunity, then he can play for Nigeria. What else can one deduce from such a statement? He had the opportunity of going to this world cup, he turned it down. If Nigeria was actually his first choice, he would have grabbed this chance with open arms.

Jay Jay has already warned him. I know other players have also warned him. Nigeria is not a dumping ground. If his form falls, we will not need him anymore, even if you beg us.

Mak: 2010-05-15 16:15

Group A has the defending champions with Esperance and Setif which are two very strong teams. i think both groups maybe of the same diffcuilty
my prediction for the final is Esperance vs Ahly
ps. Kabylie is from Algeria not Morocco

Tocee: 2010-05-15 18:30