Hearts present CAF trophy to President Rawlings

President Jerry John Rawlings, on Monday thanked players and Management of Accra Hearts for helping to ease the tension after the general elections with their sweet 3-1 victory over Esperance of Tunisia on Sunday.

He was speaking when the team presented the trophy to him at the Castle, Osu. The President noted that when Hearts were down in the first half, he could feel general gloom over the country, which turned into joy with the three quick goals in the dying minutes of the second half.

"I was out of town and was told that Hearts were a goal down when I called the Airport control tower so I said some prayers for you before I started watching the match. As if God responded immediately to my prayers and the goals started raining in just as I finished".

He asked the players not to rest on their oars but to re-examine themselves and work harder to remain where they are since they would now become the targets of all clubs. Rawlings asked them not to go out and make merry on whatever financial reward they gain for winning the trophy but rather invest in profitable ventures to yield something in the future when they would not be playing active soccer.

He paid glowing tribute to all Ghanaian athletes, who use mostly out dated facilities in training but are able to rise to the occasion and sometimes match and outperform fellow athletes from the advance countries, who use the state of the art facilities.

He assured the players that the government would reward them at the appropriate time for the glory and honour they have won for the nation after winning the cup that has eluded the country over some time now. Earlier the Board Chairman of the Club, Mr Ato Ahowi, presented the three trophies the team won this season to the President.

The Board Chairman said he was proud of his seven years stewardship, in which the team won the League four times, FA cup three times and has been crowned CAF league Champions.

He said the next trophy in the club's plan is the CAF Super Cup where they hope to beat Zamalek of Egypt before going to the World Clubs Championship slated for Spain in June 2001.

Mr Ahwoi said before the World Championship, the management would put together a tour of some European and South American countries so that they can go and give a good account of themselves in Spain.

"It is unfortunate that we would not have all our players here today with us next year, since some would be leaving to continue their professional careers elsewhere but steps would be taken to replace them with equally good players".

A member of the Council of State and a Patron of the Club, Mr Harry Sawyer, thanked the players for bringing joy to everybody in the country with their win but regretted the unfortunate incidents that nearly cast a slur over the victory.

The captain, Jacob Nettey, who presented the trophy to the President, thanked him for giving them such an opportunity to present him with the trophy and thanked Ghanaians for their support