دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2009

Heartland walk tight rope with 2-1 win
11-01-2009




Nigerian side, Heartland FC of Owerri on Sunday pulled a hard earned 2-1 win over TP Mazembe of DR Congo in the first leg final of the Orange CAF Champions League, to put their chances of winning the trophy under pressure.

The host started the game in their usual fluid manner with skipper ThanGod Ike, playing form the heart of the defence motivating from the rare, while veteran Emeka Nwana alias Ayaya, who was part of the 2001 and 2002 Enyimba FC triumph tormented the defence of the visitors in the early minutes of the encounter.

On the dot of 17th minute Ayaya, came close to scoring but was denied by the Mazembe keeper Muteba Kidiaba, as the visitors gradually gained confidence. Five minutes on, striker, Mbutu Mabi, benefited from a seemingly harmless loose ball and tried to dribble past defender Emmanuel Olowo, who aided his effort by tripping without a challenge, allowing Mbutu to stroll into the vital area to hit the opener past goalkeeper Austin Brown to silence the capacity filled Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
But Flying Eagles star, King Osanga replied almost immediately, when he latched onto a through pass from his team mate to equalize for the Nigerians and bring scores to 1-1 in the 24th minute. Nwana was again presented a chance to shoot the homers ahead but he fluffed it in the 37th minute. The visitors were content with occasional forays into the Nigerians vital area in an eventful first half that was even only in scoreline.

The second half offered the same toughness for the host, as they practically chased the game with the frustrating display by the Congolese. Heartland topscorer Uche Agba, Osanga and Nwana were all presented opportunities in the half but they were unlucky till the 76th minute and as expected Uche Agba popped up to strike home the second goal off a long pass from the midfield that evaded the crowded legs of the Congolese on the slippery pitch following a downpour earlier before the match.

Camerounian midfielder Narcisse Ekanga, made a late battle cry for a share of the spoils with motivating play, but Ike and his defence line stood resolute until Egyptians referee Abdel Fata Essam sounded the home whistle.

The second leg is slated for the Congolese city of Lubumbashi on Saturday, November 7.

At stake for the winner is a 1,500,000 US Dollars prize-money and a ticket to represent Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup slated for the United Arab Emirates in December.

هارتلاند النيجيرى يهزم مازيمبى 2/1

Heartland Come Back To Beat Mazembe

John Owoeri of Heartlands FC Photo: MTNfootball.com

November 2, 2009
Nigeria’s Heartland came from a goal behind beat TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the first leg of the African Champions League final on Sunday but will take a slender 2-1 lead into the return match next weekend.
A goal 10 minutes from time in Owerri ensured Heartland kept up their winning run at home in this year’s competition but their Congolese opponents will be fancied to secure the trophy in Lubumbashi on Saturday.
Mazembe will only need a 1-0 win in the second leg to take the trophy for the first time in more than 40 years.
Striker Tresor Mputu, who has been the top scorer in African club competition for two of the last three years, gave Mazembe the lead in the 23rd minute but it was quickly cancelled out by Uche Agba, who equalised within a minute.
Agba then notched his eight goal of the competition with an 80th minute winner. Heartland are attempting to Africa’ club prize for the first time while Mazembe last won the trophy in 1968.

Reactions: Orange CAF Champions League final ( first leg)

Heartland FC of Nigeria beat T.P. Mazembe of DR Congo on Sunday in the first leg final of this year’s Orange CAF Champions League in Owerri, South East part of Nigeria.

Tresor Mputu Mabi fired the hosts into the lead on 22 minutes before Flying Eagles midfielder King Osanga drew parity two minutes later.

Striker Uche Agba scored the winner on 76 minutes to hand the Naze Millionaires a slim lead ahead of the second leg fixed for November 7 in Lubumbashi.

After match, cafonline.com caught up with some of the main actors in the game held at the Dan Ayiam Stadium in Owerri, capital of Nigeria’s Imo State for their reactions.

Kelechi Emetole, Head Coach, Heartland FC
“It was particularly a difficult game, because it’s a final. A win is a win and I hope to go to Lubumbashi to defend the 2-1 lead that my team has taken here at home. I believe it’s possible to win on away soil”.

King Osanga, Pepsi Most Valuable Player (MVP)
“We know ourselves better and the fact is that no matter what anybody says we’re at advantage at the moment. I hope to score again in the return leg.”

Diego Garzitto, Head Coach, T.P. Mazembe
“I am very disappointed with the scoreline. We have all to play for now in the return leg and with the fans behind us; we should be able to win at home.”

Heartland Need To Score Just Once At Home

Mine Ojo of Heartlands FC Photo: MTNfootball.com

November 4, 2009
It is difficult to know quite who holds the upper hand going into the second leg of the 2009 African Champions League final between TP Mazembe and Heartland in Lubumbashi on Saturday.
Nigerian side Heartland completed a 2-1 win in Owerri on Sunday, so they hold the lead on the scoreboard, but that away goal for Mazembe has left them needing to score just once at home to win the tie.
The Nigerians will take heart from the fact that Sudanese side Al Hilal kept Mazembe scoreless at home in the second leg of the semifinal, but it was a rarity this season and the DR Congo team have been at their free-scoring best in front of their home fans.
Their coach, Diego Garzitto, believes home support may be enough to carry his side through to a first win in the competition since claiming back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969.
“I am very disappointed with the scoreline [in the first leg],” he says. “We have all to play for now in the return leg and with the fans behind us; we should be able to win at home.”
His counterpart at Heartland, Kelechi Emetole, says his side can win away, but knows that a draw would be enough to claim their first-ever continental title.
“I hope to go to Lubumbashi to defend the 2-1 lead that my team has taken here at home. I believe it’s possible to win on away soil,” he says. And there is more than just national pride at stake. Prize-money of US$1.5-million will be handed to the winners, as well as a place at the FIFA Club World Cup that will be played in the UAE in December. For the loser, the consolation prize in US$1-million.

The Past may not reflect the outcome of the finals TP Mazembe- Heartland
History sometimes enables one to be able to predict out come of competitions like the Orange champions league. The 44 finals of the Champions Club Cup competition which preceded the 2009 edition has failed to leave any clues. The Nigerians and Congolese can therefore be contented with the fact that they maybe writing a new chapter in the history of the game on the continent.
Only twice has the away leg final score ended 2-1. In 1996 Shooting Stars of Ibadan won at home 2-1 before being defeated after a similar return score by Zamalek. The egyptians finally won the title after postmatch penalties. A similar situation occured in 2004 during the finals opposing Etoile Sahel of Tunisia to Enyimba Football Club of Aba. Each of the teams won at home during the two legged tie before Enyimba walked home with the trophy after post match penalties.
Victorious against T P Mazembe in the away leg, Heartland can still be confident of winning the title when the two teams clash in Lubumbashi on November 7. A similar situation has repeated itself seven times in the past. In 1972 Hafia of Conakry won its two matches against Simba FC of Uganda. CARA of Brazzaville in 1974 also recorded a double victory against Egyptian side Mehalla. Hafia of Conakry, again in 1975 were two time victors over Enugu Rangers but in 1977 the Guineans found themselves in the position of double loosers as they were humbled twice by Hearts of Oak of Accra. In 1981 Jeunesse Electronique of Tizi-Ouzou (today Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie) also won twice against Vita Club of Kinshasa. Three years later Zamalek also defeated Shooting Stars of Ibadan twice. And in 2000, Espérance of Tunis lost twice to Hearts of Oak Accra in the finals.
It should be noted that the competition has on ten occasions ended in postmatch penalties and in six of them the home side has come out victorious.

Pepsi mvp hopeful of Cup
Pepsi Most Valuable Player (MVP) in last Sunday’s Orange CAF Champions League first leg final match between Heartland F.C of Nigeria and T.P Mazembe of Congo DR, King Osanga is very hopeful that Heartland will bring the coveted trophy back to Nigeria this weekend when the final match will be decided in Lubumbashi.

Osanga said that despite the 2-1 slim win over their visitors, Heartland F.C will play the final as if no goals were scored in the first leg. “It was a difficult match for us and the rain did not help our case as the field was slippery,” Osanga explained as the reason for the below par performance Heartland F.C who were expected to maul the Congo boys and make the second leg a mere formality.

On a day that every Heartland player put every foot wrong, Osanga the returnee from the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt was the honourable exception, providing energy where others offered lethargy. Save for the stunning goal that the Uche Agba scored in the second half of the match to put Heartland in front, he was largely anonymous throughout the first half and was only animated towards the last 20 minutes of the encounter.
So was Ikechukwu Ibenegbu of the ‘Beach Eagles’ fame who conceded the mid-field to the visitors.

For his effort, Osanga won N250,000 cash prize from Pepsi, the official beverage partner for all CAF competitions. The sum is an improvement from the N200,000 in the semi-final and N150,000 during the group stages.

Marketing Manager of PepsiCo International, Mr. Mazen Al Masri said Pepsi is pleased to support the two Nigerian club sides that played in this year’s Orange CAF Champions League. “Kano Pillars and Heartland are two clubs that have brought pride to Nigeria by the level they attainted in this year’s league. We hope that Heartland F.C will lift the trophy to emulate Enyimba F.C who had won this trophy in 2003 and 2004,” Al Masri said.

“The trophy is ours” – Garzitto assures
Frenchman Diego Garzitto, trainer TP Mazembe of Congo, believes that the trophy is as good as having been won by his side after the first leg 1-2 loss to Heartland in last Sunday’s Orange CAF Champions League final first leg clash.

The 59-year old former France International, who expressed disappointment in his club’s inability to salvage a draw in last Sunday’s encounter after Tresor Mputu Mabi had shot them into the lead on 22 minutes, remains optimistic about their chances in the return leg.

“We came here (Owerri) with a plan to at least get a draw if can’t win, but we made some costly errors and we paid for it direly,” the Frenchman of Italian descent told the local media after the match.

Mazembe will host Heartland FC in the return leg on Saturday at the Municipal Stadium in Lubumbashi and Garzitto is confident of leading Les Corbeaux to their first ever continental title since claiming the 1980 edition of the defunct CAF Cup Winners’ Cup.

The Frenchman enjoying his second stint with the twice African champions; is counting heavily on the support of the club faithfuls, expected to cover every space at the 35,000 – capacity stadium in the copper mining city of Lubumbashi to spur them on to victory.

Needing at least a lone goal victory to annex the ultimate, Garzitto has revealed that his charges will go all out to make victory a certainty.

“We have all to play for now in the return leg and with the fans behind us; we should be able to win at home.”

Sounding prophetical, the former Togo coach and Ethiopia , advised his Nigerian counterparts to forget about the title and look up to next year for their maiden continental silverware.

“I can just tell Heartland FC to wait for another year for the cup. This one is ours at least this year.”

Mazembe, African champions in 1967 and 1968 have yet to loose at home this term and appear in no mood to dent that record especially on the last day and with the trophy in sight.

Of their five final appearances in the continental club championships in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1980; Les Corbeaux have yet to loose at home.

The winner will pocket $1.5million and a ticket to represent Africa at the FIFA World Club Championship, slated for the United Arab Emirates in December.

Mazembe can’t stop us – Emetole
Heartland FC coach, Kelechi Emetole, says his side is primed for victory in this weekend return leg final of the Orange CAF Champions League in the Congolese city of Lubumbashi.

Emetole who guided the Owerri-based club to 2-1 victory in the first leg last Sunday declared that opponents TP Mazembe will be under much pressure to stop them from winning the trophy.

The former international, popularly called ‘Caterpillar’, during his hey days said the slim margin victory during the first leg was influenced by the heavy downpour before the match held at the Imo State capital.

“The heavy down pour slowed us down but we were still able to nick the win. In the return leg, we hope it does not rain and more importantly the home team will be under pressure and we’ll have the opportunity to easily score the goals we need to win the cup.”

With Mazembe are basking in confident with the away goal, Emetole, who guided two-time African champions, Enyimba, to their first ever Nigerian Premier League title in 2002, insist his charges are capable of accomplishing the mission impossible at the Municipal Stadium in Lubumbashi.

To him, this would rather bring out the best of his side, making their debut on the continental scene and seeking to wrestle the title at the expense of Mazembe, winners in 1967 and 1968.

“We have been in the situation before and wriggle out. I agree that we have our backs to the wall but that is when you see the best of Heartland and that we’ll surely show in Congo,” assured Emetole considered one of the most respected coaches in Nigeria and assistant to Tunde Disu when the Eaglets lost to Portugal in the final FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1989 in Saudi Arabia.

He has also had stints with top Nigerian Premier League sides Bendel Insurance and El-Kanemi Warriors.

The ‘Naze Millionaires’ formerly called Iwuanyanwu Nationale’s closest to lifting a continental honour was in 1988 when they lost to Algerian side, Entente Setif 4-1 on aggregate in the defunct African Cup of Champions Clubs, now christened CAF Champions League.

The winner of the Orange CAF Champions League will pocket $1.5million and an opportunity to represent Africa at the FIFA World Club Championship, slated for the United Arab Emirates in December.

Destiny on the line as Mazembe host Heartland

The curtains for the 2009 Orange CAF Champions League will go down this Saturday after the final second leg clash involving T.P. Mazembe of DR Congo and Nigeria’s DR Congo.

The venue will be the Municipal Stadium in the copper-mining city of Lubumbashi, in the Haut-Katanga Province of DR Congo.

Heartland, debutants on the continental scene have a 2-1 lead from the first leg held in the South Eastern Nigeria city of Owerri and must avoid defeat to realise their dream of becoming the second Nigerian club after two-time winners Enyimba FC to annex the most prestigious honour as far African club football is concerned.

Mazembe, winners in 1967 and 1968 are seeking to end a 41-year drought in the premier club competition and can achieve that with a least a lone goal victory over the Naze Millionaires.

Being the fourth meeting between the two clubs this season, the tide slightly tilts the way of Les Corbeaux, who made clear their intentions of the ultimate from the onset. Till this stage, Mazembe have yet to loose a game at their backyard and with the trophy on display, Diego Garzitto and his charges can’t afford a slip at this crucial moment amidst huge investment made by Club President Moise Katumbi, who doubles as Governor of the copper-rich Katanga Province.

In Tresor Mputu Mabi and Kaluyitikua Dioko, Mazembe have the most potent striking pair in the competition, with 15 goals between them and backed by their local fans, Heartland should be in for the match of their lives.

Clearly, this encounter serves the most difficult for the Naze Millionaires, who must go the extra mile to accomplish the mission impossible. Since edging past last year’s losing finalists, Coton Sport Garoua FC en route to the mini-league stage, the Owerri-based side have confirmed their readiness to dine with the elites of African football back by some sterling performances which has seen them this far.

Boosted by the foreign legion of Signs Chibambo of Zambia and Ghanaian duo, Aziz Ansah and Owusu Addae, and local heroes Uche Agba and Emeka Nwana; Kelechi Emetole’s side are hoping to write their name in history by being the first club to win the diadem on their maiden attempt since the introduction of the new format in 1997.

Garzitto, Frenchman of Italian descent is counting heavily on the fans for total support to spur them onto victory.

“We have all to play for now in the return leg and with the fans behind us; we should be able to win at home. I can just tell Heartland FC to wait for another year for the cup. This one is ours at least this year.”

For Emetole, whose tactical and technical expertise will be put to test, finding themselves in such a tricky situation is not new to his club, that they have the ability to maintain a clean sheet to cruise onto the title.

Partly blaming his side’s inability to play their fluid game due to the heavy downpour before the first leg, the former Bendel Insurance and El Kanemi Warriors trainer is unperturbed about their chances of playing the final leg away from home.

“The heavy down pour slowed us down but we were still able to nick the win. In the return leg, we hope it does not rain and more importantly the home team will be under pressure and we’ll have the opportunity to easily score the goals we need to win the cup.
“We have been in the situation before and wriggle out. I agree that we have our backs to the wall but that is when you see the best of Heartland and that we’ll surely show in Congo

In the stands will be the crème dela crème of African football including CAF President, Issa Hayatou who will present the trophy to the eventual winners.

Egyptian giants, Al-Ahly are the defending champions beating Coton Sport 4-2 on aggregate in last year’s final.

The winner of the Orange CAF Champions League will pocket $1.5million and a ticket to represent Africa at the FIFA World Club Championship, slated for the United Arab Emirates in December.

Fixture
11-07-2009 14:45 TP Mazembe (DR Congo) vs. Heartland FC (Nigeria) (1-2)

بس مكناش نطلع بفضيحة زي الي حصلت
طلعنا من فرق تعبانة وبمسخرة

ومين قال ان ده في مصلحتنا
على اساس اننا ضامنين اننا نكتسح كل الفرق الموسم الي جاي
ما احنا لازلنا تعبانين
وكل المراكز محتاجة تدعيم

osamahlawy wrote:بس مكناش نطلع بفضيحة زي الي حصلت
طلعنا من فرق تعبانة وبمسخرة

ومين قال ان ده في مصلحتنا
على اساس اننا ضامنين اننا نكتسح كل الفرق الموسم الي جاي
ما احنا لازلنا تعبانين
وكل المراكز محتاجة تدعيم