On-song Obua aiming for third with Hearts

BARRY ANDERSON
DAVID OBUA doesn't buy the modest talk from his manager that Hearts are merely concerned with finishing in the SPL's top six. The amiable Ugandan likes a laugh and a joke but his facial expression instantly turns serious when the subject of European qualification arises.
Third place, without question, is his target for this season.

Laszlo is keen to nurture humble ambitions within the denizens of Tynecastle and seems intent on erring on the side of caution, at least until after April's league split. He is also mindful that Hearts finished a mediocre eighth last year and believes any gradual improvement should be cherished.

Obua is aiming high, though. Tomorrow could transpire as one of the campaign's most pivotal afternoons regarding European placings and the African midfielder wants to ensure his aspirations are properly served.

Hearts, currently occupying the coveted third spot, host St Mirren at Tynecastle while fourth-place Dundee United visit fifth-place Aberdeen. With only four points separating the three clubs fighting to become Scotland's third force, overcoming St Mirren is of paramount importance to the Edinburgh club.

Obua would reluctantly accept finishing fourth but his eyes are transfixed on third, which permits its incumbent to miss two of the new Europa League's four qualifying rounds next season.

"We want to take that third spot so badly. If we can finish in the number three position everything will be great. It's still a long way off and we need to keep working to get there," he said.

"Third is far better (than fourth]. We are all focused on it. We know we can get there and we are all working as a team for that aim. Everybody is fighting for each other and, if things go well, we can take the third spot.

"Winning at home is the most important thing. If we do that and we are getting confidence then we can go away and get some more points. Then we'll be there. We are a long way from it just now so we need to work harder and concentrate through to the end of the season."

Laszlo has been notably more reserved with his ambitions to date. Asked about trialists appearing at Riccarton this week, he replied that they were a means to an end for the top six. "We would like to get to the best six and for this we would like to get to the best players. Without good players you can't produce good results," he said.

Having come from behind to defeat Aberdeen at Tynecastle last weekend, anything other than a Hearts victory tomorrow would be regarded as a genuine upset. "All the games are so important for us now, especially those at home. St Mirren is another game we hope to win," added Obua. "We worked together to win the game against Aberdeen. We really need to win all our games at home and get a couple of results away."

Hearts will be without Larry Kingston and Marius Zaliukas tomorrow, while Christos Karipidis and Janos Balogh remain doubtful due to a virus. Deividas Cesnauskis has returned from Lithuania's international training camp in Portugal, where he played in friendlies against Poland and Andorra, and is available.

Perhaps most heartening for supporters ahead of the St Mirren match is Obua's own continued improvement. After an unremarkable start to his career in Edinburgh, he is finally showcasing the talent which persuaded Laszlo to recruit him from the South African club, Kaizer Chiefs.

In tandem with Hearts' other wide player, Andy Driver, his marauding runs are now a regular threat to any opposition, in marked contrast to those matches not so long ago when he was being jeered by his own fans.

"I'm getting there now," he said. "I'm working so hard so hopefully I'll get there in the next few games. With supporters it's always the same thing. If you're not playing well, they're going to take it out on you. As long as you work hard and be positive then everything can be much better.

"Compared to the pace in South Africa, the game here is so quick. Everybody marks you so closely. But when I came here I had to adjust with injury problems, that was the biggest problem I had. My injuries were at the wrong time, I had no pre-season, then I came back to Edinburgh and got injured again so the other players were so many games ahead of me. Anyone who knows football would know I was going to struggle when I came back, and I think I did struggle. I was so positive about what I was doing that I just kept working, knowing that everything would be okay later."

It was at this point Laszlo intervened. Rather than leave Obua on the sidelines to spare him from the public carping, he played him through the torment and watched him emerge a stronger, altogether more useful, player. "When you come back from injury you need to play to get your fitness back. If you sit on the bench, everything just gets worse," continued Obua. "Csaba gave me the opportunity and I tried to work as hard as I could. It was difficult for a few weeks but I gave my best.

"I've known Csaba from home and he's always the same. He wants to win all the games, you'd expect that from any manager. Even the best managers in the world go crazy, and he's part of that. Hopefully he can take this team to new heights."

Obua, like Laszlo, will know full well that following up an eighth place finish with an ascent to third would be a climb of dizzying proportions.

Taken from the Scotsman