Hazy weather welcomes Hearts to Mali

From: William Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent in Bamako, Mali

Bamako, March 5, GNA - A 37 man contingent of Accra Hearts of Oak on Friday morning arrived in Bamako, Mali in a hazy harmattan weather to engage Stade Malien in the first leg preliminary round of the CAF Champions League on Sunday.

The hazy and cold weather condition was so severe that every member of the contingent appeared pale instantly and most members had to seek solace in their pullovers.

Officials of the Malian Federation, however, made swift arrangements for the Ghanaian representatives to be moved into their hotel, which is just a few minutes drive from the airport.

The contingent included 21 players, two technical men, three members of the Interim Management Committee of the Club, an official of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and members of the media.

Some of the players who made the trip were Sammy Adjei, Ebenezer Dida Armah, James Nanor, Amankwah Mireku, Dan Coleman, Dan Quaye, Loius Agyeman, Dan Oppong, Kwame Antwi and Kwabena Boafo.

Others were Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Frank Kornu, Adjah Tetteh, Adjebu Lawson and Francis Bosman.

The rest were Ablade Morgan, Bernard Don Bortey, Prince Tagoe, Lawrence Adjei and Abdul Samad.

The technical team was led by German import Ernst Middendorp and assisted by Emmanuel Ofei Ansah, with Sabahn Quaye as the assistant team manager.

Despite the bad weather the team plunged into a serious training session after a few hours rest in order to acclimatize sufficiently for the match.

It is being speculated that the match would be played under floodlight.