Ishmael Addo, Osei Kuffour return to Hearts

Accra Hearts of Oak?s determination to raise the bar of excellence in domestic football with an unparalleled sixth consecutive premier league title has been given a shot in the arm with the club signing on four new players, including Ishmael Addo.

Hearts completed their recruitment for the season last Friday by adding Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, William Gbedzeke and Togolese Farouk Coubadja to their roster. The Phobians even bolstered their youth side, Auroras, with 14 new players as Henry Commodore, Louis Agyeman and Addokwei Addo. Last Sunday, Hearts introduced Gbedzeke against Asante Kotoko and the young man made a good impression in his debut.

However, it is the presence of the striking duo of Addo and Kuffour that will gladden their follower, as well as put their rivals on red alert. Addo has returned home after a short stint with French side, Bastia, while Kuffour has not played competitive football since Ghana crashed out of the 2002 Nations Cup.

During their three-year romance with the Phobians, the two strikers brought the club their only continental success as well as three back-to-back league titles. Addo also attained the enviable heights of winning the goalking crown three years running.

The return of Addo and Kuffour would even strengthen Herbert Addo?s team further and put them in a good stead to retain the league title. Hearts are unbeaten this season and are comfortably on top of the league table with seven points adrift of their nearest rivals, Kotoko. Hearts? playmaker, Charles Taylor, currently leads the goalking race with 12 goals followed closely by team-mate Bernard Don Bortey with seven goals.

Meanwhile, information reaching the Ghana Review International Sports indicates that Kumasi Asante Kotoko have managed to secure the services of CAN 2002 Cup of Nations hero Isaac Boakye. The former Goldfields player had hoped to pursue a professional career overseas after the Africa cup but with the deals proving elusive, he has decided to settle with the Porcupine Warriors.