Preko explains why he did not go to Libya

Assistant coach of Hearts of Oak Yaw Preko says he was left out of the club’s traveling party to Libya due to an assignment with some of the injured player.

Preko who was only assistant coach to Kenichi Yatsuhashi in October was conspicuously missing from the club’s 28-man contingent that left Accra last Saturday for Tripoli to play two friendly matches against Al Ahli.

It is very unusual for clubs to leave behind their assistant coaches for any kind of international assignment even it is for friendly matches especially if the individual in question is not banned or suspended.

The former Ghana star’s exclusion from Hearts’ trip to Libya thus raised some uncertainties over his future with the club even though he was appointed barely two months ago.

But Yaw Preko has clarified he has been handed an assignment to help in raising the fitness levels of some of the injured players at the club.

“We had some players nursing injuries so I was directed by the coach to help build their fitness so that they join the main team on their return from Libya,” he explained.

“This trip is for a mere friendly game so I found this explanation very rational and forms part of our plans to return the side to peak form.”