French coach Diego Garzitto said on Sunday that Democratic Republic of Congo club Tout Puissant Mazembe are the new champions of Africa because of hard work throughout the year.
Mazembe pipped Heartland of Nigeria in the first African
Champions League final decided by the away-goal rule with a 1-0
victory in the southern city of Lubumbashi having trailed 2-1 after
the first leg.
An own goal settled the return match with Victor Ezuruike
heading a Lunkamba Somwe cross past substitute goalkeeper Ikechukwu
Ezenwa and into his own net on 74 minutes before a sell-out 35 000
Kenya Stadium crowd.
While the Congolese 'Crows' claimed a third title and the first
since 1968, Heartland fell at the final hurdle for the second time
following a 4-1 hiding from Algerian outfit Entente Setif 21 years
ago.
"Hard work was the secret of our success. We have been preparing
feverishly for African matches throughout the year and this
dedication paid off," the 59-year-old former Togo and Ethiopia
coach told reporters.
"Whatever happened during the course of our campaign, our
obsession with hard work never wavered from the first match against
Angolan club Petro Atletico to the last against Heartland."
Garzitto said it was also helpful not to be put under pressure
by officials from a club that Benedictine monks formed 70 years ago
to keep their students occupied during spare time in the southern
copper mining city.
"When we started our campaign no one told us we had to win the
African title, but the players and coaches accepted the challenge
and I'm delighted that we succeeded.
"My players have put smiles on the faces of the people of
Lubumbashi and the Democratic Republic of Congo in general and we
are proud of that," said the coach who joined Mazembe at the start
of this year.
Garzitto said the introduction of Basisila Lusadisu and Luyeye
Mvete in the second half for Zambian Given Singuluma and leading
Champions League scorer Dioko Kaluyituka helped loosen the grip of
the Nigerian defence.
"Close marking made it difficult for my players to move around
so I altered the approach during the second half by reinforcing the
midfield and this helped us maintain our lead, " he explained.
Heartland coach Kelechi 'Caterpillar' Emetole was furious with
his team, claiming tactical indiscipline cost them the chance to
become the second Nigerian winners after 2003 and 2004 title
holders Enyimba.
"There was no discipline with my tactical instructions ignored
and everyone doing his own thing. This had a huge impact on our
performance," admitted the veteran coach.
"Poor finishing was another contributing factor as we wasted two
golden opportunities to score and it contributed negatively to our
quest for Champions League glory."
Success earned Mazembe a record $1.5 million plus an
invitation to the end-of-year Fifa Club World Cup in the United
Arab Emirates with Spanish giants Barcelona among possible
opponents.
While Mazembe qualify automatically for the 2010 African
Champions League as holders, Heartland will get another chance to
conquer the continent having qualified to represent Nigeria with
Bayelsa United.
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