Coach David Duncan emerged hero from a weekend of confusion as he became the focus of attention in Tema yesterday as Hearts of Oak beat Amidaus Professionals 1-0 in a tough league clash.

Like a cat with many lives, the 50-year-old sprang up at the Tema stadium to an ovation as he obliged the virtual distress call by supporters of the club for him to return.

It was 48 hours after news of his sacking by Hearts hit the media airwaves and 24 hours after supporters of the club disrupted a scheduled news conference at the club’s secretariat in protest of his departure.

But at Tema yesterday, outspoken Duncan seemed to enjoy the serenity of the occasion, remaining the biggest attraction at the sub-standard VIP stand, though he hardly responded to the cheers.

He, however, had no say when the fans grabbed him shoulder high after proceedings and embarked on a ‘lap of honour’ as they composed songs in his praise without end.

Sources said fans had yanked him from his home at about 4:30a.m. yesterday, demanding that he joined the team for the trip to Tema.

The act was a carry-over from last Saturday’s events when the fans brought him to camp to calm the nerves of the players after disrupting the club’s news conference moments earlier.

In his absence, his then deputy, Ben Adjei, had survived the tough assignment in the Harbour City, overcoming the stubborn Amidaus to cut leaders Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s lead to just a point.

It was unclear whether Hearts management would succumb to the pressure from fans to reinstate the trainer, but sources close to the coach have hinted Graphic Sportsthat he has agreed to return to the team this week.