Hearts of Oak attacker Isaac Oduro has played down the absence of their Japanese trainer Kenichi Yatsuhashi from the dugout ahead of the second round of the season.

The 22-year-old forward rallied his colleagues to stay strong and sustain the winning mentality that saw them hijacked headlines at the start of the campaign.

Oduro missed the last few matches of the first round due to a bout with injury but is already targeting a domestic championship with the fourth place Phobians.

Management of the Rainbow family mutually parted ways with the Kennichi Yatshuhashi less than a week to the second round and has since replaced him with Portuguese trainer Sergio Traguil.

The rainbow club dropped from first to fourth after a dreadful end to the campaign which cost their Japanese trainer his job after a buoyant start to the season.

“Kenichi is gone but I don’t think his absence will affect us. We just have to remain focus and work hard as a unit under our new coach. We need to maintain our away form and stay strong at home if we are to win the league as a club”, Oduro told Sportscrusader.com.

Isaac starred prominently for the 20 times league champions in the opening 10 matches before been crocked by injuries.

The rainbow club dropped from first to fourth after a dreadful end to the campaign which cost their Japanese trainer his job after a buoyant start to the season.

“Kenichi is gone but I don’t think his absence will affect us. We just have to remain focus and work hard as a unit under our new coach. We need to maintain our away form and stay strong at home if we are to win the league as a club”, Oduro told Sportscrusader.com.

Isaac starred prominently for the 20 times league champions in the opening 10 matches before been crocked by injuries.