Heartland need heart to avoid bashing in Lubumbashi

When the Democratic Republic of Congo won the inaugural African Championship of Nations, CHAN 2009, in Cote d'Ivoire - a tournament designed for African players in their respective domestic leagues - they won it with 11 members of TP Mazembe in the squad. And with the result obtained last Sunday in Owerri against Heartland FC, it is not unlikely that the Congolese could secure a second continental diadem this year.

The Mputu threat

Tresor Mputu in the last three editions of the CAF Champions League has shown he is a goalscorer of note, emerging atop the pack with nine goals in the competition in 2007. At the CHAN 2009 in Cote d'Ivoire, he was named as the tourney's Most Valuable Player, and he did his reputation a lot of good when he got the all-important away goal in the 23rd minute to put Mazembe in front in the first leg of the Champions League final in Owerri; a situation which has placed Heartland in a difficult position ahead of the return leg in Lubumbashi as they aim to clinch a trophy last brought to Nigeria by Enyimba in 2004.

Repeating history

A draw in Congo will be good enough for the Nigerian side to emerge as African champions and this possibility cannot be totally ruled out. But if the home form of Mazembe is taken into consideration, then Heartland could just kiss goodbye to the trophy and with it, an appearance at next month's FIFA Club World Cup.

With the exclusion of the 2-0 bashing they suffered at the hands of Al-Hilal of Sudan in the second leg of the semi-final, which was inconsequential having beaten the same team earlier in Sudan 5-2, Mazembe won their three home games against Heartland, Monomotapa of Zimbabwe and Tunisia's Etoile Du Sahel, and scored eight goals in the group stage, as against just one goal Heartland were able to put away from an equal number of group matches away from home.

As a result, we are suddenly faced with a repeat of the 1988 final when Heartland, then known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale, won by a lone goal in Ibadan against Entente Setif in the final of the Champions League, only to get bashed in the second leg tie by the Algerians 4-0.

The goal duel

Saturday's tie, however, has all the settings of a cracker and the battle between Mputu and Heartland's Uche Agba,

who are both tied at seven goals apiece, will make for an interesting scenario with Victor Namo of Kano Pillars, and Endurance Idahor of Sudan's Al Merreikh also locked on seven goals but whose sides are out of the competition.

An opportunity thus abounds for either Mputu or Agba to finish the competition as top scorer, even though they also have to take into consideration Mputu's team mate, Dioko Kaluyituka, who is also vying for the same honour, having already scored eight times.

Team player

But the thought of finishing as leading scorer is the farthest thing from Agba's mind as, according to the left winger, scoring is just an extra job. "I will rather we go to Congo, get a 0-0 draw, and win the trophy," said Agba in a telephone chat with NEXTSports.

"I am a winger and not an out and out striker, so scoring is not a priority for me but winning." For the Technical Adviser of the Owerri side, Kelechi Emeteole, he accepted the fact that Mputu is a threat, but not one to lose sleep over, saying he is preparing to face a team, and not an individual.

"I am not expecting an easy game because as we are preparing, so are they," he said. He added that he and his team have worked so hard ahead of the tie while praying for their efforts to be crowned with victory at the end of Saturday's encounter.

In a year where football has put more frowns than smiles on the faces of Nigerians, many will be hoping that Heartland can pull off an upset of sorts against Mazembe and place smiles back on the faces of Nigerians.

But with a capacity crowd expected to cheer Mazembe in Lubumbashi, Heartland will need much more than prayers to place their hands on the Champions League trophy.

"We have all to play for now in the return leg and with the fans behind us, we should win at home," boasted Diego Garzitto, coach of Mazembe.