I'll keep wearing my lucky green boots, says Hearts playmaker David Obua

Nov 16 2008 By Gordon Waddell

DAVID OBUA has warned Hearts punters to stop seeing red at the fact he's going green.

The Ugandan was chinned by fans during a break in play on Wednesday night for sporting boots in the colours of deadly rivals Hibs.

But the playmaker has laughed off the stick and insisted they're here to stay. Speaking for the first time after a 10-week fight to shake of a thigh injury, Csaba Laszlo's first summer signing said: "Green is my lucky colour. I've always worn the boots and always will "It's not that I'm wearing them because I support Hibs!

"The supporters shouted over tomeabout them but you shouldn't care.

"Everybody has to wear what they are comfortable with and I like my green boots.

"I'm getting another set from Nike so have to use them again. It's just advertising.

"I'm not doing it to antagonise the fans - I know the rivalry between the two clubs is long and so is the history.

But they are my lucky boots and I have to wear them."

Obua, 24, played for an hour in Hearts' 1-0 win over Hamilton, his first action since August. And while he has asked Jambos fans to tolerate his footwear he's much more concerned about them tolerating the team.

The hail of boos ushering the players off the park in midweek after a victory that left them clear in fourth place raised eyebrows in the dressing-room.

And Obua said: "The fans here are vocal but sometimes they see things differently to us. I don't blame them but they should be softer on the players, cheer them and help them through every game because it's hard sometimes.

"The Hamilton match was difficult. We were defending for most of the second half but got the points and I think that's what our followers wanted."

Outspoken Obua is not kidded that Jambos are the finished article.

And he has warned Laszlo's paymasters in Lithuania they need to back their boss with hard cash in January.

He said: "Csaba is making his mark but the club should get more quality in the squad.

"Sometimes it's so hard for him - if he loses three or four players he is in trouble because his bench is not that strong.

"When the transfer window opens I hope he can get some new faces in and have a much stronger team."

Obua is the one player in the squad who can speak about their fledgling boss with a bit of knowledge, having worked under him in the Uganda national team.

And he insists the version we're seeing, gesticulating wildly on the sidelines, has been toned down.

He said: "Csaba is a calm guy but when everyone comes to the field they want to win and he is no different.

"He isn't doing it for the benefit of the fans - he was worse in Uganda. Sometimes you'd find him on the halfway line in a game and have to tell him to get off the park.

"The fans love him to death over there. When he left everyone was crying. And when I last went back people everywhere were saying 'Please send the coach our greetings, we love him.'"

Obua insists successor Bobby Williamson has every chance of following Laszlo into the nation's hearts.

He said: "Bobby is a great guy. He has problems but I talked to him when I was home for the game against Niger.

"He wants to look at the grassroots and rebuild the Ugandan national team - it's what we need."

Taken from the Sunday Mail