Soulama Yearns For Victory Over Kotoko

Accra Hearts of Oak international goalkeeper, Soulama Abdoulaye has lauded the players for the recent league victory over AshGold and is yearning for another against his former club Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

The Phobians will host the Porcupines of Monday, 2 May at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra in the top-liner of the Match-Day 10 fixtures of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and the Burkinabe international has lauded the fighting spirit of the team.

They produced an impressive second half display to beat the Miners 2-0 at Obuasi-their first win in a league game at the Len Clay Stadium in nine years.

Prior to that game, the Phobians had gone four games without a win in all competitions, and they respond positively against AshGold, forcing them to concede their first home defeat of the season.

And Soulama said it is this same attitude they will take into the Kotoko game in Accra on Monday as he anticipates victory on the day.

“I am confident we can win this one if you look at the confidence level in our team and the spirit behind the boys, he said after their training on Tuesday.

“This is the first time I will be facing my former club in a competitive game since I joined the Phobians, and, I want to end up on the winning side,” he added.

“The three points are crucial to us and we are determined to make full use of our home advantage on Monday and make our fans happy,” he stressed.

‘When I was at Kotoko, I helped them beat Hearts of Oak, and, I think this is the right time to taste victory with Hearts over Kotoko,” noted.

Hearts are second on the league log with 18 points, seven more than their fiercest rivals in the Ghanaian game who are ninth.

Soulama Yearns For Victory Over Kotoko

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

Hearts Can Win Opening Seven Games – Soulama

Goalkeeper Soulama Abdullaye has said Accra Hearts of Oak can win their opening seven games in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) this season and has urged his colleagues to go for it.

The Phobians have won their opening two games of the campaign and will next play Ebusua Dwarfs at Cape Coast on Sunday as the GPL enters match-day three this weekend.

And Burkina Faso international, Soulama, has told Sportscrusader.com that they are focused on keeping their winning run going and will work towards that.

The experienced goalkeeper missed his side’s last league game against Medeama SC at Tarkwa last Sunday with an injury, but, expects to be back in action against Dwarfs after making a full recovery.

He said after the team’s training on Thursday that he is fully fit now and is ready to play his part in the team’s anticipated success this season.

“I am confident we can win our next five games and we will work towards that starting with this Sunday’s game in Cape Coast against Dwarfs,” he said.

After this game, the Phobians will play Bechem United in Accra with further games against Inter Allies at Tema, Wa All Stars – Accra, and away to Techiman City.

Hearts Can Win Opening Seven Games – Soulama