Hearts Face Big Test in Luanda

Angola's A.S. Aviacao are undoubtedly one of the fast rising clubs on the continent today. But can they match popular opinion with their ouput on the field of play against Hearts of Oak of Ghana, on Sunday May 18, in Luanda in either the Coqueiros Stadium or the Cidadela Stadium in the Africa Clubs Cup Competition? M.B. Brimah provides the answer.

Since 1996 when Angola made a debut appearance at the Nations Cup, football has been on the rise in country. In addition to achieving successive qualilfications for the Nations Cup, two of Angola's leading club sides, Petro Atletico and Primeiro Agosto have recorded inpressive runs in continental championships, while the Junior national team featured in the finals of the 1999 African Youth Championship for the first time.

Even before then, Primeiro de Maio had knocked out Kotoko just after the Porcupine Warriors had won their second continental trophy in 1983. Petro Atletico also showed Hearts of Oak the exit in 1998. It is against the backdrop of this football revolution that A.S. Aviacoa seek to complete a hat trick on Ghanaian clubs.

A.S. Elvicao of Angola are undoubtedly the best team in Angola today. The side has several singularly gifted players. Goalkeepers Cuca, Ndulo and Lutuma Ishamba are experts in goal, and they are supported by a capable defence with two tall strong central defenders, Jacinto (3) and Joao (5), with full backs Sergio Antonio (2) and Domingos Celestino (14) playing wide; three loose-limbed and hard working midfield players Augosto (4) Sidonio Inacio (10) and Lukata Shumu (8) are capable of assisting in defence and attack. Love (19) is the leading goal-scorer; and there are two fluid attackers in the centre, Pedro Domingos (9) and Sebastiao Arsenio (13) and on the left flank Humberto Gomez (11) with Kituma Kimfuta keeping well out on the right flank.

The right-back, links well with Love, a young player with great dribbling quality whilst captain Jacinto Perreira, capably covers the back.

Bad finishing mars their splendid display. A.S. Elviaco misses good chances. They give the impression that they are tactically unaware of how to make the best of their natural ability. And that perhaps the speed of their game induces a lack of composure near goal. Some of the football the team produces is delightfully refreshing and much to be admired.

Coach Antonio Carlos Bernardino however, has promised to revamp the team's play to assert themselves, against Accra Hearts of Oak, as their play suggest they should. Big test, therefore, await Hearts of Oak in Luanda as the coach intends to mix the aforementioned names with that of Paulao, Quinzinho, Paulo Antonio, Pedro, Osvaldo, Aveliro, Jorge, Sebastiano Joachim, Polino Afonso, Ernesto and Vero Neto.

With the mixture, Hearts of Oak's defence will certainly not find much respite since the Angolans are in to blunt Hearts claws.