Can Hearts sing Arose, Arose, 'Aroooose' on Sunday?

(A GNA Preview by Veronica Commey)

Accra, March 18, GNA - How loud can loyal supporters of Accra Hearts of Oak sing their famous Arose, Arose "Aroooose" tune when the Phobians cross swords with Stade d'Malian of Mali in a make or break encounter billed for the nation's Wembley, the Accra Sports Stadium in after the next 72 hours.

None need to be told about the tight rope Hearts will tread on, which will obviously require more than their famous tune but exactly as the same as the spirit of their never say die slogan, since for now, nothing can be said to be over until all is over on Sunday.

Opinions concerning the game over the last few days after the team's hard fought goalless drawn game in Mali have favoured the Phobians, but it remains yet a daunting task for the 2000 champions to prove their capabilities when they gather arsenals to destroy the 'old foes' who eliminated them at the same stage in a similar competition two years ago.

From all indications, chances for both teams on Sunday remain equal though Hearts stand a chance of benefiting from their home advantage, but the visitors will also have the equal opportunity of qualifying to the next stage of the competition if they are able to pull at least a one all drawn game.

Hearts however start as favourites at the backdrop of the impressive attacking flair, spiced with good tactical play that they exhibited in the first leg in Bamako.

As compared to the bias officiating, which saw every move by flagged offside as against the Malians inability to penetrate their opponent's defensive network, the odd favours the homesters.

Come Sunday, coach Ernst Middendorp who has found his way into the hearts of many Phobians as a result of the seemingly rapid growth of the team with an injection of discipline, will be poised to map up the needed strategy to clip the wings of the visitors.

The coach will bang his hopes of keeping a clean sheet on the likes of Dan Quaye, Daniel Coleman, Kwabena Boafo as well as Louis Agyemang as a quick replacement of banned skipper Amankwaa Mireku, with reliable hands of agile goalkeeper, Sammy Adjei keeping the post at the back.

The duel, will by all standards be a very tough one especially based on the stakes involved and this will provide enough test for the Emmanuel Osei Kuffour-led midfielders to work overtime since they will be missing hardworking but banned Francis Bossman who often provide the necessary passes to fetch the needed gaols for the Phobians.

From all indications, the Malians will want to play a defensive game as a strategy to prevent conceding goals while operating on the fast breaks as their normal weapons and that is why the Hearts coach needs to work extra hard on the mental alertness of the team throughout the duration of the game.

With the vast superior tactics at the disposal of Middendorp, it is expected that the Phobians will guard against complacency while the attacking trio of Ablade Morgan, Lawrence Adjei and silky back to batan, Bernard Don Bortey will strive to turn half chances that come their way into full scale come Sunday.

Wagers are that high that Don Bortey and his colleagues can not afford to miss chances as they usually do but loyal fans of the great Oak tree fraternity can take consolation in their team's resolve to go for the goals at all cost.

Morgan summed up the teams' resolve and enthusiasm when he told the crush their opponents will have a lot to cheer about expecting good officiating coupled with a bright weather.

Much as I agree with those who say "vengeance is the Lords'", based on the ordeal the team went through in Mali, vengeance should rather be for the Phobians on the field of play in order to avenge the 3-1 defeat they suffered in their return encounter in Bamako by grabbing the maximum points at the same time.