Arguably, Accra Hearts of oak under the care of His Majesty Togbe Afede XIV has been ordinarily disjointed and engulfed with total crisis and the earl
Arguably, Accra Hearts of oak under the care of His Majesty Togbe Afede XIV has been ordinarily disjointed and engulfed with total crisis and the earlier of positive intervention, the better for the future of the sleeping giants.
Professional top clubs across the globe at a point in time has struggled on and off the pitch due to intensive competition from opponents but the zeal to put things together and rise again clearly defines the pedigree of that said club.
The monetary crisis is one major reason for several problems that trigger a particular club to lose its apex status as a club because of inability to raise money to purchase marquee and quality players for respective positions in the team to compete at the top level.
During the glorious days of Accra Hearts of oak, the club was owned by a section of the supporters and through that, they were engaging in “Lalasulala” (soliciting for funds) to run the club and it wasn’t a hidden secret that the club was facing financial crisis those days but surprisingly they were raising quality players through “prudent” recruitments and eventually conquered Africa in the year 2000 to win the elite CAF champions league and added the domestic league title and FA cup to become one of the few African and first West African club to win a treble in that particular season.
They didn’t rest but went ahead to polish their trophy cabinet with CAF super cup at the expense of African giants Zamalek SC in 2001 and maiden CAF confederation cup at the expense of their bitter rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 2004/2005 season.
Isn’t it beyond comprehension that, with the inadequate resources those days they were able to achieve all African elite club trophies…
What were Harry Zakour, Dr Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe, Tommy Okine, The late Alhaji Hearts, Commodore Mensah, Bright Akwetey, Ernest Thompson and others doing right to compete at the highest level even with that limited resources???….
It all bowed down to unity and understanding between the leadership and supporters of the club.
Togbe Afede XIV, who is the majority shareholder of the club is a known successful businessman, therefore, was expected to improve the sinking image of the club on and off the pitch by competing for major trophies and infrastructural development of the club but consistently the once African champions has been a laughing stock in the public due to poor leadership and lack of dynamism for achievements.
Dozen of coaches have been appointed and sacked since 2011 under the leadership of Togbe Afede XIV but unfortunately, not a single major trophy has been added to the “Dusty” trophy cabinet of the falling giants.
Key players leave the club season by season without a single financial benefit to the club due to poor management of members that have shielded the club.
And once a dream club to most upcoming football talents in the country, strangely that motive has changed now. Currently, most players prefer to play for Medeama Sc, Aduana stars, Dreams FC, Inter Allies than Accra Hearts of oak due to the fallen standards and poor direction of the club.
With just 13 matches played in 2020/21 Ghana premier league season, two coaches namely Edward Nii Odoom and Serbian, Kosta Papic have been used by Hearts of oak already, the former was demoted to the academy while the latter resigned together with the goalkeeper’s trainer, Ben Owu citing management interference in their duties.
Once, continental club champions, Accra Hearts of oak is now in the guidance of the club’s U15 coach, Samuel Nii Noi as an interim coach and that confirms the sinking standards of the club.
The roots of the oak tree are gradually losing its quality identity and I fear it might fall one day.
–
Source:Ghana/Herosportgh.com/OBED ATUAH ADAMS
COMMENTS