2nd April, 2013
Heartland Assistant Coach, Ransom Madu has said his side’s massive 4-0 win against Gombe United in Sunday’s Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL Matchday 5 in Owerri is a morale boost for the CAF Confederation Cup reverse fixture at Union Sportive Bitam, USB, in Gabon this week.
The first fixture at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri ended 2-1 in favour of the Nigerian representatives.
The goal feast for the Cup holders against Gombe United started in the fourth minute from the new lethal finisher, Happy Okuoka and the 2012 Federation Cup top scorer, Isah Akor increased the goal tally to two in the seventh minute while Okuoka grabbed his brace at the 24th minute. Attacking midfielder, Ikechukwu Ibenegbu completed the routing of the Savannah Scorpions with the fourth goal in the 58th minute.
The massive victory takes the Naze Millionaires’ total earnings to seven from a possible of 15 points.
Madu said it is heartwarming for his side to have discovered their scoring ability days to their decisive African tie at the Gabonese side, US Bitam.
“The massive victory is clear evidence that good days are here for Heartland in the domestic league. “It’s a morale boost for my charges going into the weekend’s Caf Confederation Cup tie at US Bitam in Bitam, Gabon. “I’m excited we’ve discovered our goalscoring feat. It has boosted the confidence level especially as we need goals to survive the challenge in Bitam against US Bitam.
“Gombe United were not cheap as the score line seems to suggest. They’re a good side, but we were damned lucky to have converted our chances at goal,” said the former Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Heartland) player to supersport.com.
Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup campaigners must avoid defeat at US Bitam to progress to the next stage of Africa’s second tier club competition.
The encounter will hold at the Stade Gaston Peyrille, Bitam in Gabon.