Hearts of Oak have accepted that they’re the premier league underdogs when the season starts on February 20.

The Phobians have been ruled put by football pundits in the country including Medeama SC boss, Tom Strand to win the league, and spokesperson of the club, Opare Addo says the club is happy to be touted small boys for the season.

“If people say we are the underdogs for the season we have accepted it,” Opare told Asempa FM.

“We have accepted it as a challenge but when the season starts, our performance on the pitch will prove everybody right or wrong.

Accra Hearts of Oak has been criticized for appointing Kenichi Yatsuhashi, an inexperienced coach to replace veteran Herbert Addo.

The club has gone through a torrid pre-season which raised eyebrows over whether Kenichi Yatsuhashi can step up to the plate, but Opare Addo says they are not interested in what the naysayers are talking about.

They have only taking their criticism as a challenge and the will prove many people wrong at the end of the season.

“The concentration is to make sure that we are more consistent than last season.

“We have to work very hard to ensure places people believe Hearts can’t cross that line, we are able to cross those lines.

“Then we sit back and listen to the comments of the same critics who wrote us off,” He said

Hearts of Oak round off the preseason with a game against newly promoted Dreams FC in Dawu to re-commission the Dawu Park.

Their first premier league game of the season will be at home against New Edubiase on February 21.