Hearts In Search Of A 20-Year Lost Prize

Accra - Twenty years ago, Ghana's champion club, Accra Hearts of Oak, came so close, yet so far from performing a feat similar to what their fiercest rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko did in 1970 and 1983.

In the Central African country of Cameroun, the Phobian dream of winning the prestigious Africa Champions cup for the first time elapsed into thin air. Then Camerounian champions, Union Duala, under very harrowing circumstances jolted the Hearts dream.

It was late 1979, and all was set for the premier club in the country to be rewarded for braving all odds in their journey to that year's finale. The defeat by Union Duala was unexpected. Not after Hearts had scaled over a looming danger manifested in the dreadful Hafia club of Guinea.

Then considered the most potent force in African soccer, Hafia beat Hearts two nil in the first leg quarter final match in Conakry, thus setting a very high order for the Ghanaians in the second leg match in a fortnight time. Not only the two nil score line scared many a Phobian. Hafia's pedigree as three times Africa Champions Club was equally scarry.

Again, a 5-2 drubbing of Hearts by the Guineans in the finals of the 1977 chamoinship, heightened the hysteria of the most ardent Phobian.

Yet, Hearts managed the storm. In a feat well remembered in the manner in which it was executed, the "Never Say Die" spirit of Hearts was in full effect with star performers John Nketia Yawson, Douglas Tagoe and Kingston Asabre re-enacting the true Phobian character. The great Papa Camara was left dumb. So were Bengally Sylla, Petit Sorry, Amara Tuore, and Fouma Camara who for a very long time never came to terms with that ominous defeat.The shocking defeat as later events showed, formed the genesis of the demise of the great Hafia.

The spontaneous outbursts by the glory-starved Hearts' supporters after that feat could be judged on the same length as when Kotoko supporters went on procession after wrestling the cup from Mobutu's den in Kinshasa, Zaire, presently Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970.

The chorus was uniform and unanimous: "We are Continental Club Masters.We are the famous, famous Hearts of Oak........". The supporters savored the joy even before the Semi and the Final matches. Indeed with Asante Kotoko of Ghana; Canon de Younde of Cameruon's torchbearer positions on the continent's taken over by Accra Hearts of Oak and Union Dualla and with Hafia also booted out in the quarter finals of that year's competition, the supporters thought, the Phobian dream could not be derailed by a little unknown Union Duala, notwithstanding the fact that they upstaged the dreadful Canon de Younde in the Camerounian league that year.

So from Tumu to Ada and Ellubu to Aflao, supporters of Accra Hearts of Oak only looked up to the day the Continental Club Masters chorus would become real.

A shocking lone goal scored by Hearts in Accra could not diminish the dream. "The Cameroumians will first have to equalize before they can even think of winning", was the consolation from the teeming supporters. That definitely was an arduous task. It was the first of the '79 Championship between union Duala and Hearts of Oak.

The defensive cover of Justice Moore, Ofei Ansah, Hesse Odamtten and Nii noi Thompson are just as good as impregnable to concede any cheapish goal, the supporters contended. Sam Suppey, the goalkeeper was also believed to be as good as any goal tender on the continent at the time.

The stop clock offered some hope. Three minutes to end proceedings. The Hearts sub-bench of Seth Wilson and goalkeeper Paul Annan could not wait for the final whistle. And by the ninetieth minutes the ecstasy back home knew no bound. The setting was in Duala and the occaison was the second leg match of the finals.

But perhaps the Moroccan referee Mustapha knew the score and after offering a lifeline to the hopeless Camerounians through a doubtful pernalty against Hearts, historians of Ghana soccer conjectured as to why the Morroccan could be that calous. Moroccans have never forgiven Ghanaian referee, Major Lamptey, whom they accused of causing the elimination of the North African country from the 1974 World Cup against then central African country, Zaire.

Moroccans still remember that controversial penalty awarded by the Ghanaian against Morroco in the dying embers of the said match which eventually booked Zaire the ticket to that year's World Cup. Thus the action of the Moroccan referee Mustapha was interpreted by many a phobian fan as paying back the Ghanaian team what Major lamptey did to Morroco after 19 years.

That controversial penalty took away the steam of the gallant Hearts players. In the ensuing penalty shoot-out, Hearts lost through Adolf Armah and Simon Awuah.

The Antoinne Bell-led Union Dualla thus became the proud winners of the 1979 African Cup of club championship after converting all their kicks .

As the Phobians embarked on another journey after their nearly-there situation 20 years ago, the younger generation ought to be guided by the tortuous journey of their predecessors. After their brilliant start in this year's competition which saw Hearts scoring an emphatic 13 goals in two matches, these young crop of players seem poised to overcome the phobia of their senior generation.

The real test of Hearts comes at the league stage of the competition where El- Ahly of Egypt, RAJA Cassablanca of Morocco and likely qualifiers, Shooting Stars of Nigeria pose a major scare. Except Shooting Stars, the remainder of the two teams have unprecedented pedigree in the championship competition which constitute a major pain in the neck of most Hearts fans.

El-Ahly have won the championship trophy on four occasions, a feat which has propelled them to an envious position as one of the top most clubs on the continent. El-Ahly shares that position with Ghana's Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

Perhaps, Ahly is the only side with a lot of experienced players. The Hassan brothers, Hossan and Ibrahim are veterans of many club championships. The two come into the fray with rich experiences. Hossan especially could be a real bother to any team in the championship. The Egyptian lethal striker was at his best in last year's African Cup of Nations.

He was a member of the Ahly squad that eliminated Kotoko from the 1987 Championship. El- Ahly later in the competition won that year's competition. Hearts would probably need to re-enact their 1977 quarter final conquering of the same side.

It was the era of the fearsome five- some of Bobby Hammond, Mama Musah Acquah, Peter Lamptey, Anas Seidu and Mohammed Ahmed Polo. There was also a solid defensive cover of Evans Aryeequaye, Sarpei Nunoo, Addo Quarcoo, Seth Ampadu and Seaman Anthony Micah.It was definitely a steel-like defence which requires the wit of a Maradona to outwit. After losing by a lone goal in the first leg in Cairo, Hearts rallied in Accra a fortnight time to beat the Egyptians 3-0.Though a herculian task,Hearts needs to be reminded of that incredible scoreline to goad the present generation to rise above the Ahly scare.

In that regard Hearts back four of Dan Quaye,Jacob Nettey,Sannie Wahab and Justice Ampah ought to be outstanding as the those of the '77 Squad where the towering figure of Seth Ampadu was very much a bother and intimidating to opposing teams.

The team's midfield has indeed lost the dexterity of an Adolf Armah, the man who lubricated the wing back of Hearts in the 70s, yet Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour who mans the position presently may not posses a finnesse of an Adolf, but makes up with grittiness and combating.

Although the fearsome fivesome established a creadential yet to be equalled by any Hearts side, the present crop of Kenneth Sarpong, Yaw Sekyi, Joe Fameyeh,Osumanu Amadu and Robert Sarbah by their outputs so far look more than determined to thread past the great Ahmed Polos and his other dreadful four.

Moroccan champions, RAJA Cassablanca, were the proud winners of the maiden edition of the championship league. After one all draw with then Ghanaian champions, Obuasi Goldfields, RAJA won the penalty shoot out which was invoked after the stalemate. They also enter the championship with reknowned vigour to make amends for what went amiss last year. Apart from RAJA'S own distinguished record, Morrocan teams seem to have what it takes to win the championship.

Teams from the Mahgreb country like the Royal Armed Forces, and El Merrekech have one way or the other been champions before,thus presenting a frightening diagnosis of that country's credentials in the club championship competition.

Hearts will thus be on the look-out.Yet the Accra team could have some respite. Afterall Moroccan clubs have fallen to Kumasi Asante Kotoko in all encounters regarding the championship. Perhaps Hearts could take cue from Kotoko's golden record against clubs from Morocco.

The last team in the group is yet to be known yet the Phobians should be cushioning themselves for greater heights if they are able to deal with the looming Margreb threats.