Hearts Legends made to toil for sake of Tanzania

The children of Samuye, in Tanzania, may have been unaware of the fact that former Hearts players Henry Smith, Jimmy Sandison and Alan McLaren were playing at Ainslie Park, Pilton, amid waving Tanzania flags on the touchline - but they will soon reap the rewards of the former players' endeavours.

Edinburgh-based charity SASHITA staged the match, putting up a team of their own to take on the Hearts Legends side and to raise money for the hometown of Maggie Mazoleka, the wife of the charity team's goalkeeper, Grant Finlayson.

The fixture represented the latest fundraising effort by the charity, which has already constructed a deep-water well in Samuye and is now aiming to raise 28,000 to build an adjacent electric sub-station and 40,000-litre holding tank so that people in the village can get access to the water.

The charity hoped to raise around 1,500 from the fixture through ticket sales to the crowd of around 80, retail of Tanzanian flags, and sponsorship of the participating players.

SASHITA started brighter in the match, and when Steven Finlayson played a lovely through-ball to Stewart Dagless, goalkeeper Henry Smith evoked memories of past Tynecastle heroics by saving the one-on-one. Smith was at his best again minutes later to tip Finlayson's rasping shot on to the bar.

Hearts began to dominate, especially in a midfield that featured Jimmy Sandison and Alan McLaren. With 24 minutes gone, the charity side's goalkeeper Finlayson pulled off a good save, but from the resultant corner Hearts took the lead through a close-range tap-in.

Hearts Legends then scored a second ten minutes later when a beautiful cross-field pass was controlled and blasted into the roof of the net by Max Christie.

SASHITA were then caught napping in the 39th minute when a controversial free-kick was taken quickly by Scott, whose quick thinking had the ball in the net before the defensive wall and goalkeeper were properly organised.

At 3-0 to the Legends, SASHITA, featuring ex-Hibs and Livingston midfielder Stuart Lovell - who spread the ball about beautifully - hit back in the second half.

Bruce Inglis hit an unstoppable shot low into the net and the charity side then got a fully-deserved second goal 15 minutes from time, Inglis cutting inside from the right before glancing up to see Smith off his line and sending a sublime chip into the back post.

SASHITA pushed for the equaliser but couldn't find it. Stewart Dagless, a Hearts fan who doubles as SASHITA captain and manager, was just happy to have enjoyed a match played in competitive spirit and for a worthwhile cause.

"It was amazing to be playing alongside the guys I used to watch from the stands. We were disappointed to be 3-0 down at half-time, but we kept the heads up.

"Grant's wife started off the charity and, for the sponsorship for this game, had handed out forms to all the players. We collected money, sold tickets for the game to around 70-80 people. The folk from the charity sold raffle tickets, too, and we raised 695, which we're delighted with.

"The match itself was surprisingly hard, which gave us more incentive to do well. It was fairly competitive. I went into the Hearts changing room after and they said ‘That's one of the best games we've had' - their average score is about 13, 14, 15-0.

"Being ex-professionals, they wanted a good game and there were definitely some tasty tackles going in."

Spartans and Tynecastle youth football clubs have also helped out by donating football strips for Samuye children.

For more information and to make a donation, visit www.sashita.org.uk

SASHITA: Grant Finlayson, Bruce Inglis, Robert Buchan, David Murphy, Brian Halliday, Steven Baynes, Craig McCathie, Stuart Lovell, Steven Finlayson, Stewart Dagless, Danny Burnett, Robert Black, Scott McDonald, Alex Sayers, Andy McEwan, Gary Lynch, Kevin Allan, Alasdair Anderson, Pete Walker, Russell McIntosh, Barry Watson, Mike Collings.

Hearts Legends: Alan White, Henry Smith, David Murie, Jim Rae, Gary Sutherland, Alan McLaren, Jimmy Sandison, Alan Lawrence, Liam Delury, Brian McNaughton, Davie Scott, Neil Irvine, Alan McPherson, Tommy Graham, Max Christie.

"It was amazing to be playing alongside the guys I used to watch from the stands"

Stewart Dagless