Former Black Stars defender Aziz Ansah is optimistic his Nigerian outfit Heartland FC can get a favouarable result against TP Mazembe at home on Sunday in the first leg of this year's Caf Champions League.
Ansah came close to winning the Caf Cup Winners Cup with Kotoko in 2002 when they lost at home in the final to Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco.
Two years later, he was part of the Asante Kotoko team that missed out on winning the maiden edition of the Caf Confederation Cup against local rivals Hearts of Oak.
The right-back remains positive in the face of those setbacks and he believes he can banish those difficult moments.
"It's very painful to miss those opportunities on two occasions but I have a feeling I will be lucky this time round. Heartland have a team spirit and that is driving me," Ansah told Ghanasoccernet.com.
"I have told the players not to lose focus because we are close to making history for ourselves and they know what they must do.
"For me personally, winning this trophy will justify my decision to play in Nigeria and this will give me some respect as well."
The two sides are meeting in the competition for the third time after two meetings in the Group stage of the competition.
Heartland, then known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale, lost to Algeria's Entente Setif 4-1 on aggregate in the final of the competition, then known as the CAF Champions Cup.
