Hearts set for miracle

In their chequered history, Accra Hearts of Oak have produced some rare feats on the continental scene that still inspire awe among their opponents.

True Phobians still have fond memories of the second half magic they conjured to demolish Mulfilira Wanderers of Zambia 3-0 within 15 magical minutes in an African Clubs Championship match in 1977, famously known as the Miracle of El-Wak and the 3-0 walloping of the fabled Hafia Club of Guinea at the Accra Sports Stadium, a defeat which ended the long reign of one of Africa’s finest football forces.

In both cases, qualification had seemed remote and even their most ardent followers gave them little chance. Indeed, in the case of the famous ‘Miracle of El-Wak’, the Phobians after losing 5-2 in the first leg in Lusaka to a very formidable side, rose from the ashes to qualify for the finals of the Africa Clubs Championship, now the CAF Championship. Against Hafia in 1979, the Phobians had lost 0-2 to the Guineans who had beaten them in the final of the 1977 edition of the Africa Clubs Championship.
As recent as 2006, the Phobians proved that they still possessed the wizardry to hypnotise their opponents much against the odds as they eliminated Saint Georges of Ethiopia after losing 4-0 in the first leg in Addis Ababa.
It is this history that most Phobians who will troop to the Accra Sports Stadium should inspire a generation of unsung Hearts players to pull the chestnut from the blazing fire as they host Tunisia giants Esperance Sportive de Tunis who appeared set for qualification on account of their 4-0 advantage in the first leg.
Since Hearts were subjected to that sobering defeat some former players, as well as officials, including Harry Zakkour, the man who led Hearts to conquer Africa in 2000, have seen qualification as a pipe’s dream considering the sheer size of the task in the Esperance’s opposition.
But the strong point of the current Hearts squad, inspired by the heroics of goalkeeper Soulama Yakubu and the confidence of Robin Gnagne and Philip Boampong in defence, as well as the energy of Paul Acquah, Eric Kumi, Isaac Mensah, Ashitey Ollenu, have largely proclaimed that “It’s not the size of a dog in a fight but the size of a fight in a dog.”
So far they have lived up to this saying in away games against Olympic Ngor, Djoliba Athletic of Mali and A.S. Police of Benin and it appears they are ready for Esperance tomorrow.