The near-misses that have characterised Heartland FC of Owerri’s chase for the Federation Cup ended yesterday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos where the club edged Enyimba of Aba 1-0 to become the 66th winner of Nigeria’s glamorous cup competition.

It took Heartland’s captain, Chinedu Efugh, to break the hearts of Enyimba fans that thronged the venue where Lagos and Imo State governors Babatunde Raji Fashola and Rochas Okorocha were guests of honour towards end of the first half after goalkeeper of the Aba club, Paul Godwin, spilled the ball to allow Efugh, who won the game’s Most Valuable Player award, scramble the ball in. The goal brought out the fight from Enyimba players who got what looked like a clear goal by Uche Kalu overruled as offside.

The losers relied heavily on the power in defender Valentine Nwaebili’s left foot to level score. But inexplicably, the fringe Super Eagles player had a forgettable day as he put his feet wrong throughout the game to the surprise of his fans that had looked forward to him reenacting the form with which he has lifted the Elephants to the 2011 Champions League semifinals.

Reacting to his team’s victory, Heartland’s Dutch coach, Lodewijk De Kruif said, “The pressure was much but my boys did well; they worked very hard and there was a good defence organization that enabled us to win the cup.” National Mirror learnt that Governor Okorocha would redeem his car gift pledge to the victorious team in the days ahead.