We Are Ready For Berekum Chelsea Game – Coach Keni

Accra Hearts of Oak coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi has said his side is ready for their next Ghana Premier League (GPL) game as they seek to get back to winning ways after losing their last league fixture.

The Phobians will travel to the Brong Ahafo region to face the might of Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park and Coach Keni said they will rise up to the challenge.

He has overseen the team’s training this week to the Legon Ajax Park in preparation for this encounter and hopes it will reflect in their play on Sunday.

“Training has been very good and the players have made a very good effort,” he said, adding that “we will definitely are ready for the game”.

The Phobians will be out to defend their unbeaten away record in the league this season, and, most importantly, restore confidence to the side after their painful loss to Kotoko last Monday.

“Our away form has been good and we hope to continue with that in this game,” Coach Keni said, insisting that they are not under pressure to perform going into this game after losing to their bitter rivals.

“Our players are mentally ready and focused to beat Chelsea. Every game we play, either home or away, we are going in for three points and we will do our best,” the Japanese-American said.

The Phobians will depart Accra to Berekum on Saturday morning for Sunday’s game against a Chelsea side that has won all their five home games this season.

 

We Are Ready For Berekum Chelsea Game – Coach Keni

We Will Build On This Momentum – Coach Keni

Accra Hearts of Oak Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi has said his side will press home their new found confidence after overcoming AshantiGold Sporting Club in their last Ghana Premier League (GPL) game.

The Phobians posted a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Miners at the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi in their Match-Day Nine GPL encounter to maintain second spot on the log.

Te win also ensured that they remain the only side in the competition yet to lose an away game as and this Coach Keni said they will look to build on.

“Prior to this game, we had not recorded good results (not won in four in all competitions), and, we wanted to put out a statement by returning to the form that we started the season with,” Coach Keni said.

“This is an important win for us and we hope to build on this momentum for the remainder of this first round,” he added.

Hearts will next play bitter rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko in their next GPL game on Monday, 2 May at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra in what will be the top-liner of the Match-Day 10 fixtures.

“We have another difficult opponent in our next game, and, we will prepare very well for them, hoping to win the three points at stake and move on with our campaign,” the Japanese-American stressed.

We Will Build On This Momentum – Coach Keni

I Have No Contact With Kotoko – Coach Keni

Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi of Accra Hearts of Oak has denied rumours gaining currency that he is flirting with bitter rivals Asante Kotoko and could be opened to a move to the Porcupines.

The Japanese-American is owned two months’ salary (February and March) plus other bonuses, and, his refusal to accept his pay when management of the club tried to pay him, fueled speculations about those rumours.

However, Coach Keni insists he is happy with the Phobians and only want the best with the technical staff and playing body he works with.

“I refuse to accept my pay because my assistants and players are owned salaries and bonuses and this is not acceptable to me as a coach,” he wrote on his facebook wall.

He insisted that he has had no contact whatsoever with the people at Asante Kotoko and pledged his loyalty to the capital club, saying that the $2,000 he receives a month, is not an issue in this situation.

“All I want is to see my players and assistants paid and after, I will take my salary, he wrote, adding that he wants to work with a happy family were trust and confidence exists.

Last week, the Management of the club made an attempt to pay the coach monies owned him, but he rejected those advances and made it clear that he will only take his salary and bonuses after his assistants and players have been paid first.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Have No Contact With Kotoko – Coach Keni

Pay My Assistants, Players First – Coach Keni To Hearts

Accra Hearts of Oak Coach, Kenichi Yatsuhashi has told the Club’s Board and Strategy Committee to pay his assistants and the players he works with first before he takes his share.

The club has not paid their Japanese-American trainer for two months (February and March) wih his backroom staff and players also not being paid during this period.

Sportscrusader.com sources also revealed that winning bonuses and other promises made to the players and technical team have also not been paid since the league started.

Last week, the Management of the club made an attempt to pay the coach monies owned him, but he rejected those advances and made it clear that he will only take his salary and bonuses after his assistants and players have been paid first.

Coach Keni has also debunked rumours that he is unhappy with his salary of $2,000 a month.

Writing on his facebook wall, he said he understands the situation in Ghana and is happy with the contract he signed with Accra Hearts of Oak and will respect it.

“All I want is to see my players and assistants paid and after, I will take my salary, he wrote, adding that he wants to work with a happy family were trust and confidence exists.

Coach Keni has led Hearts to a promising start to the season and are second on the Ghana Premier League log, three points behind leaders Wa All Stars after seven games.

Pay My Assistants, Players First – Coach Keni To Hearts

We Expect Even Tougher Matches - Coach Keni

Accra Hearts of Oak Kenichi Yatsuhashi says the club expects a lot more tougher matches in all competitions this season and is bracing himself up for the challenge.

Coach Keni saw his side lose their unbeaten start to the season ended by Wa All Stars at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra last Sunday as they went down 1-3 to the northern club in the top-liner of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

“The competition is tough as all clubs come in prepared to fight for every point at stake, and, you have accept the challenge and press on,” Coach Keni said.

“I take the blame for the defeat to All Stars and congratulate the opponent for the win,” he said after the game adding that he expects Hearts of Oak to bounce back stronger.

“We will learn from this defeat and continue to work hard in training as there is no easy games around in this league, and, we expect even tougher matches,” the Japanese-American added.

Hearts of Oak faced some difficulties in last Sunday’s game, a situation that contributed to the team’s first defeat of the season in all competitions and Coach Keni is keen to address them.

“The performance on the day was not our best as we have played better this season and could have put in a lot more than what we produced,” he stressed.

 

We Expect Even Tougher Matches - Coach Keni