I want to run Hearts — Jones

One of the nation's most celebrated coaches, Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, has said he will only return to Accra Hearts of Oak as chief executive and not as a coach.

"A chief executive is my position now. I have now reached the level where I can hire or sack coaches and team managers when they are not able to perform effectively," he added.

Speaking to the Graphic Sports at the Accra Stadium soon after Hearts' 0-1 defeat by his new club, Liberty Professionals, the renowned coach intimated that the players of Hearts have virtually become part of his family despite playing against them.

Coach Attuquayefio, who expressed his displeasure at the manner Hearts is being administered, hinted that he would love to return to Hearts as chairman to help raise the club to greater heights where it can rub shoulders with big clubs in the world.

"Hearts is not being run like a professional club and this is the most important change that I would like to effect if I get the opportunity to steer the affairs when the term of the current management ends in two years time," he said.

Explaining how he was able to defeat Hearts, coach Attuquayefio noted that nothing is outside the reach of the Almighty God. "What is important is hard work and dedication to enable one achieve his heart's desire," he added.

Asked whether he had prior intention to derail Hearts' league title ambition, coach Attuquayefio quickly replied that 'the age of Methusela has nothing to do with the wisdom of King Solomon'.

He attributed his victory over Hearts to his previous association with the club, having been with them as head coach for four years during which he won both the Africa Champions League and the Super Champions trophies for the first time.

"Hearts have been my team for four years and I know what to do with them at any particular time. I am glad to have rubbed shoulders with the team of the moment and won. Having won Africa's prestigious trophies for them I knew victory was within my reach," he affirmed.

Touching on the future of Liberty, Coach Attuquayefio noted that it would be too early to predict or put the club at a position where they apparently do not belong thereby raising false hope, but added "the show must go on since what is important is for us to continue to improve upon our performance in preparation for a better outing next season."

He said Hearts and Kotoko have already dictated the pace for this season's league but there is still hope for a good performance, which could be bettered next time.

Coach Attuquayefio stated clearly that his victory against Hearts was no revenge but rather a standard he wants to set for others to emulate. "I achieved a lot with Hearts as coach. Other people should also fight to equal or improve upon my performance. I believe in taking fresh challenges and this has surely confirmed it," he concluded.