Hearts FC stranded in Brazzaville

Accra Hearts of Oak, African Super Champions landed in Brazzaville early Thursday morning without their baggage.

In an "urgent message" signed by the Club Chairman, Mr Harry Zakkour and faxed to the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) the loss of their equipment in transit was attributed to the negligence of officials of Air Afrique, which lifted them to Brazzaville, via Abidjan.

Worse of all, the statement said the team was accommodated in a disused Police Cadet Dormitory near the airport because the Congolese officials said all hotels in Brazzaville have been fully booked for an international conference.

Under the circumstances, Mr Zakkour stated, six players have been allocated one room with four sleeping on the floor while the other two share "a ramshackle bed", while they move to another restaurant for their meals..

The statement explained that the Police Cadet Dormitory was the only alternative since they arrived in the Congolese capital at 2 a.m. very much exhausted. The team, however plans to check out if nothing is done to improve their living condition.

Hearts appealed to the GFA to inform the Confederation of African Football (CAF) about their plight