Hearts vs Kotoko: Player To Watch-Mustapha "The General" Essuman

Mustapha Essuman is a midfielder who was born on January 17, 1983 and plays for Ghana Premier League (GPL) club, Accra Hearts of Oak.

Essuman signed on a free for Accra Hearts of Oak after numerous stints across Europe and his last stint was in the Vietnamese football league with Cần Thơ football club.

The 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) started his professional career with Liberty Professionals FC and in 2003 was named as captain of the club before he left in 2005 for his exploits abroad.

Upon his return to Ghana, Hearts signed him aged 33 and this got opposing fans mock the Phobians for signing a player whose career has already hit its peak but the commencement of the 2015/16 season has seen Essuman’s critics revise their harsh verdict on him.

The former Liberty professionals midfielders performance has seen Hearts record seven wins, a draw and defeat in the nine game old GPL season.

His vast experience coupled with the young, enterprising Isaac Mensah has got Hearts off to an impressive start to the season.

Hearts host their fierce and sworn rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Monday, 2 May at the Accra Sports Stadium and the Porcupine Warriors midfield will have to put in an extra shift to stop Essuman who already has a goal from midfield and three assists to his name to have any chance of picking at least a point or all the three available on the day.

Hearts vs Kotoko: Player To Watch-Mustapha "The General" Essuman

We Must Be Consistent To Be Champions – Mustapha Essuman

Experienced midfielder of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mustapha Essuman has urged his teammates to be more consistent in their approach to the campaign as they chase silverware at the end of the season.

This according to him is the only way they can be assured of winning something at the end of the campaign to end the club’s trophy drought over the last few seasons.

Hearts under their Japanese-American coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi, has made a promising start to the season, and, sit in second place with 14 points, three behind leaders Wa All Stars in the Ghana Premier League after seven games.

The Phobians have lost one and drawn the other in their last two games, and this Mustapha believes must be improved upon if they are win something at the end of the season.

“We should be a lot more consistent with our performance as that is the surest way we can become successful at the end of season,” he said.

The Phobians will next play Division One outfit Samartex FC in an MTN FA Cup round of 32 game on Saturday at Samreboi in a game Mustapha hopes Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi can guide them to success.

“He is a top coach and his work so far has justified why he was brought here,” he said, adding that with the right approach Hearts can win this competition at the end of the campaign”.

“We know the game with Samartex will be difficult as they will be at home,” he added, insisting that “we will not underrate them and will go all out for the win”.

Mustapha therefore urged his colleagues to rise up to the challenge in Saturday’s game and press on for the win to advance to the next stage of the competition.

We Must Be Consistent To Be Champions – Mustapha Essuman

Hearts Ready For Techiman City - Mustapha Essuman

Experienced Accra Hearts of Oak midfielder, Mustapha Essuman has said his side is ready for the task of ending the unbeaten home run of Techiman City as they contest the Ghana Premier League (GPL) debutants on Sunday in a Match-Day Seven encounter.

He has therefore called for a quick response from his teammates following the side’s first loss of the GPL season last Sunday.

The Phobians lost their unbeaten start to the season at the Accra Sports Stadium when they were beaten 3-1 by Wa All Stars in a game marred by some questionable referee decisions.

But Essuman has urged his colleagues to put that defeat behind them and focus on the upcoming game with City which to him, is crucial.

Hearts will travel to the Brong Ahafo region on Sunday to play Techiman City away, and, Essuman insists they should go all out for the three points insisting that they are ready for the battle.

“We need a quick response to last Sunday’s defeat, and, I urge my colleagues to be up to the task on Sunday,” he said, adding that this is the only way “we can get the campaign back on track”.

“Victory in Techiman is possible, and, we should go for it and prove to all that indeed we are Accra Hearts of Oak,” the experienced enforcer said.

He will be hoping to play a part in Sunday’s game as the Phobians go in search of their third away win of the season and put pressure on the league leaders.

The game with Techiman City will be Hearts’ fourth away game of the season with the Phobians having beaten Medeama SC and Inter Allies and drawing with Ebusua Dwarfs in previous encounters.

Hearts are second on the Ghana Premier League table with 13 points from six games and will be looking for their fifth win of the season on Sunday.

Hearts Ready For Techiman City - Mustapha Essuman

Mustapha Essuman targets good season with Hearts of Oak

Accra Heats of Oak midfielder, Mustapha Essuman says he is eager to prove his mettle at the capital club insisting that the Phobians will take some beating next season.

The experienced combatant joined Hearts of Oak in the last transfer window and scored his first goal for the club in their last pre-season friendly with Dreams FC at the Dawu Park last Sunday.

Hearts of Oak won that game 2-1 over the newly promoted premiership side with Eric Kumi the other scorer on the day.The Phobians had earlier recorded a 2-0 victory over the same opposition in the first of two games played on the day.

Essuman, said the team is ready for the start of the Ghanaian season and hopes to build on the good pre-season campaign they have had under their Japanese-American coach, Kenichi Yatsuhashi.

He told the club’s official mouthpiece, the Hearts News that his aim is to give off his best for the club any time he is called upon to do so, and is anticipating a good season with the Phobians.

The competition for places in the team he added, is high and intensive but, welcomed that challenge insisting that it will bring the best out of them as they chase a first league title in six seasons.

Hearts of Oak will play New Edubiase United in Accra in their first league game of the season on Sunday, and, Essuman will hope to be part of the selection as they look for the three points to get their season off to a good start.

The Phobians finished last season in 13th position and will hope to do better than what they perfomed when the campaign ends.

Mustapha Essuman targets good season with Hearts of Oak