Countdown to the Ghana Premier League (Team Profile-Accra Hearts of Oak)

With 16 days to the start of the new season in the Ghana Premier league, one team that will be looking forward to reclaim its ‘respect’ in the league and its quickly falling status as a giant in Ghanaian football is Accra Hearts Oak.

The club which was founded on 11th November 1911 has achieved various honors in football on the African continent with the noticeably being the ever CAF champions league conquering squad of 2000 whom are referred to as the 64 battalion.

The clubs motto “NEVER SAY DIE” is a clear reflection of the art, science and reality that the Oak tree is very strong and tough in withstanding and surviving all kinds of weather conditions.

Hearts’ current struggles illustrates the good and bad times at one stage in life of any institution or the other due to mortal failures, shortcomings and differences in opinion. The Phobians however, want to count on the spirit of love and unity that bonded them together to be able to ride forward and never to return backwards.



The 2014/2015 season didn’t go well for the team as they placed a record low 13th position on the league table but management of the team after the impartation match last Sunday between the current Hearts team and the merger of the champions league squad of 2000 and the confederation winners of 2004 assured fans the 2015/2016 season will be a great year for Oak tree.

COACH

Kenichi Yatsuhashi, the 46 year old Japanese trainer recently signed a two year contract for the club and is expected to revamp the club after almost a decade without the trophy. The Japanese-American trainer has had a difficult start to life but he has received the needed backing to bring back the lost glory.



ASSISTANT COACH

Hearts assistant manager, Yaw Preko, 41 year old former Black Star player will be looking to help the head coach in his pursuit for glory and as a former player will bring his knowledge on the traditions of the club along as Hearts focus on winning a trophy for the first time in 8-years.



CURRENT SQUAD

Soulama Abdulai, Owusu Bempah,Richard Akrofi, Sabah Laryea, Issac Mensah, Mustapha Essouan,Thomas Abbey,Eric Kumi, Selasi Adjei, Samuel Yeboah,Cosmos Dauda, leonard Tawiah, Kennedy Appiah, Vicent Atinga, Isssac Baadu.



GROUNDS

Accra Sports Stadium