Accra Hearts of Oak, fresh from their impressive win against Togolese champions AS Douanes in an African champions league preliminary match in Lome last Sunday failed to make hay when they were held one all in a special charity cup fixture played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The "Reggae Boyz," as the Okwawu lads are now referred to because of the dread locks of their new trainer Nana Agyemang, scored in the first minute and the champion club had to wait until three minutes into lost time to get the leveller.
Eric Mensah's headed goal from a corner kick appeared to take the wind out of the sail of the champions as they failed to resurrect from the shock and had to struggle for a greater part of the game against a gritty Okwawu side.
The Okwawu boys played above themselves as their rasta-haired coach Agyemang gave instructions at the least opportunity in a bid to keep his lead, in fulfilment of his earlier boasts to beat Hearts.
The dominance and competitiveness of the visitors forced coach Herbert Addo to effect three changes in the first half to strengthen his team. He made five more changes in the second half in a bid to equalise.
Hearts also substituted goalkeeper Mohammed Saani with international goalkeeper Sammy Adjei on 46minutes.
The Phobians who drew inspiration from the partisan crowd lifted their game and dominated most parts of the last quarter of the game but all their chances went waste as the attack marshalled around veteran Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour lacked coordination upfront.
The closest they came to scoring was in the 79th minute when Fatau Duada tipped off the line and then saved an incisive dipping shot by Kuffour.
In one of the Phobians numerous moves upfront, Osei-Kuffour was brought down in the penalty box and referee Charles Dowuna accordingly whistled in the Phobians' favour.
Amankwa Miraku scored for the rainbow shirts to set up a return encounter at the same venue on Wednesday.