ISHMAEL ADDO back to battan

Former Hearts of Oak precocious striker Ishmael Addo who returned to Ghana some weeks ago, after he failed to secure a contract with French club, Bastia, is set to relaunch his career with the champion club, Accra Hearts of Oak. Ishmael Addo went on a six-month loan trial with Bastia in France, but could not meet the demands of the club.

A source close to the player said after completing the duration of the contract, and unsuccessful in securing the first team of Bastia, Addo is back to fold of the phobians, the club he led to chalk some very remarkable successes both in the domestic league and in Africa.

Ishmael Addo, who was a key member of the national under 17 squad is noted for his goal scoring ability. For the last two seasons, Ishmael together with the likes of, Charles Taylor, Jacob Nettey and Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor brought glory to Hearts of Oak and made it the club to beat.

After last season’s league he left for Bastia in France for 6 months. Ishmael featured in some matches for Bastia, and was later sent to the juvenile side. Even though he was not successful in France, he is reported to have recaptured his former good shape. With his current form Ishmael’s inclusion will augment Hearts attacking line up which had suffered some set backs with the exit of Osei Kuffuor and himself.

Whiles the likes of Jacob Nettey, Amankwah Mireku anchored the defence; Ishmael took charge at the other end of the pitch. He is a natural front man and a goal-scoring machine that had proved a mouthful for many goalkeepers in the Ghanaian league.

As an apprentice in division two he netted 28 times, in his premiership debut, he grab 15 goals, 18 in the second season and 25 to equalise Dan Owusu’s record of winning the goal king title for three consecutive times. Ishmael was a beneficiary of the silky touches of Charles Taylor and Osei Kuffuor. With Charles Taylor now captain of the champion club still in contention, the goal-machine hopes to make a grand come back to the fold of the phobians.