‘‘THE OAK TREE STILL STANDS, A LESSON FOR VOLTA’’

Folks, never get confused about using this figurative expression (‘‘the oak tree’’) to refer to heart of lions because, that is the perfect expression that describes them. They deserve the commendation after ‘‘fighting tooth and nail’’ to remain in the premiership

It was all nostalgic moment after the shadows of Ho based VORADEP in the nineties, cast on my mind even though they got relegated. As a simile, Heart of Lions remain strong as a ‘‘desert pinnacle’’ in the Volta Region after Ho VORADEP. Their management style as compared to other compatriots cannot be a departure from the truth, even though there are rooms for corrections. Sunday’s triumphant 2-1 victory over Chelsea saw a much more hungry Lions side with clear specific intent to win even if one does not know the situation in which they found themselves. Young Bernard Morrison won the day for lions after scoring a penalty and beating two defenders, squeezed the ball through an acute angle whilst the goalie already responded to the call of gravity. Eric Agyemang however pulled one back for Chelsea but, that was not enough to ‘‘save their bacon’’ (to avoid defeat)

Similarly, Heart of Lions assembled fine talents all over the years for their battles. They kept sending strong signals to all football administrators in the region. There are dotted exceptional players playing in over fifty teams in the Volta Region which are competing among each other for the elite division. When the die is eventually cast, they have to be relegated because they are competing with stronger sides with well assembled and blended quality players. Let us consider a side with quality players without a strong financial muscle and one with less quality players but with financial endowment. Where do we split the straw?! God give us the wisdom to achieve results and not efforts.

Conclusively, players whose future cannot be guaranteed with a reasonable degree of confidence, seek information on the internet especially on contractual arrangements. I can see a lot of players are playing as amateur without a professional contract as stipulated by FIFA’s status and transfer of players regulation (‘‘ a professional is a player who has a written contract with a club and is paid more for his footballing activity than the expenses he effectively incurs. All other players are considered to be amateurs’’). An ember of hope remains; let us learn as if we were to learn forever, live as if we were to die tomorrow.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

BY ALIFO KEKELI