Injury Boost For Hearts Ahead of Kotoko Game

Accra Hearts of Oak have been handed a major injury boost with news that six of their injured players have returned to training ahead of their league game with Asante Kotoko.

The Phobians will host the Porcupines in the topmost liner of the Match-Day 10 Ghana Premier League (GPL) games on Monday, 2 May at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Fans of the club will be happy to know that Samuel Yeboah, Ashitey Ollenu, Kennedy Appiah, Selasi Adjei, Musah Inusah, and Evans Gbeti have all returned to training ahead of the big game.

The six were all took part in Tuesday’s training at the Legon Ajax Park and and were included in the traveling party by Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi to their secret camp ahead of the Kotoko clash.

Striker Samuel Yeboah has not featured since Hearts’ game with Techiman City having complained of illness and later a foot injury, he could be in the squad for Monday’s game.

Ashitey Ollenu has not featured since the MTN FA Cup defeat to Samartex, missing two games in the process, but, the winger is back to fitness and could also be selected for the game.

Left back Kennedy Appiah has fully recovered from a thigh injury and has pitched camp with his colleagues.

Striker Selasi Adjei has overcome his troubling knee injury and has been training with the team; along with long time absentee Musah Inusah, with the defender having won the fight against a niggling ankle injury.

Goalkeeper Evans Gbeti has also returned to the side after picking up a back injury prior to the Samartex game.

This should welcome news to all fans of the Phobians as they go in search of their sixth GPL win of the season against Kotoko in Accra next Monday.

Injury Boost For Hearts Ahead of Kotoko Game

Nassamu Yakubu – Soulama’s Return Is A boost

Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeepers’ trainer Nassamu Yakubu says Soulama Abdoulaye’s return from international duty to the team is a boost for the side going into Sunday’s game in Techiman, but believes the fans must still throw their support for second choice goalie, Samuel Akurugu.

Akurugu deputized for Soulama Abdoulaye in the last match-day against Wa All Stars, and although he had been in impressive form against Medeama SC and Wassaman United, he did not have a good day last Sunday in Accra.

Speaking after the team’s Thursday training session, Nassamu admitted the team buckled under pressure against All Stars, but has welcomed Soulama’s timely return to the setup.

“Soulama’s return is a boost to the team,” Nassamu told the club’s official newspaper, the HEARTS NEWS. “I think for once we saw the team playing under pressure and we faulted.

“The communication was not there, if you look at the third goal we conceded [against All Stars] for instance, three players were round the ball with no one  getting his foot to it. It was uncalled for. We have done that correction and so whoever is around the ball should be vocal. If you are not getting the ball, don’t let your opponent get to it,” he said.

Despite impressive outings and two clean-sheets against Medeama and Wassaman, Akurugu’s confidence has gone down, but Nassamu believes support from the fans can help the young goalkeeper overcome the bad feeling.

“The pressure fell on Akurugu on Sunday but it is a process and you cannot play that position without having that bad feeling,” the Hearts goalkeepers’ trainer said.“I know Akurugu is not comfortable now because he feels he has let the team down. But I think he can recover from it and we have to work hard on it.

“We shouldn’t just throw him away with the bath water; we may need him again. In my dialect, they say, ‘if your child drowns in water, would you stop drinking water?’ Never! So we should support Akurugu.”

On Sunday’s game against Techiman City and what we should expect from his goalkeepers, Nassamu said: “We will do our best and we will see after 90 minutes; what result we will get.”

Nassamu Yakubu – Soulama’s Return Is A boost