Hearts of Oak midfielder Samudeen Ibrahim has lamented on the departure of some key players of the side ahead of the upcoming season.

The Phobians have been hit by the departures of last season's key cogs such as Kwame Kizito, Leonard Tawiah, Thomas Abbey and Vincent Atinga following the expiration of their respective contracts.

And according to the silky midfielder, the club will miss the experience and astuteness of the aforementioned players as they seek to end their nine-year trophy drought.

“It’s very sad news for me because, it’s not easy to be with such players and later lose them. It will affect the team a lot, so I was very sad when I heard the news,’ Ibrahim said.

“But I don’t have control over anyone, so I think that is football for you, you cannot stay in one club forever. They also have their own reasons.”

He added, “Definitely, is not easy to recruit a player and then for his first season gel with the team. It won’t be that easy, so definitely we are going to miss them. And is going to affect the club no matter what,” he added.

The Phobians finished 3rd at the end of the last season’s campaign.