Richard Akrofi Calls For More Aggression From Hearts Players

Defender Richard Akrofi has called for more efforts from his colleagues if they are to reach their ambition of winning the Ghana Premier League title (GPL) with Accra Hearts of Oak this season.

The Phobians sit fourth on the GPL table with 26 points at the end of the first round of the campaign, just two points behind the leaders Wa All Stars.

Akrofi and his colleagues will begin the second round of the campaign on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium against Dreams FC as they attempt to move up on the table.

The nonsense defender has urged his team-mates to be more fearless in the second round as that is the surest way to press home their challenge for the league title.

“I want to see a lot more fire in our approach towards games this second round, and, this will put fear into teams that will play us and give us the advantage to win games,” Akrofi told the club’s official newspaper, the Hearts News.

“It must start in our game on Sunday against Dreams FC and, I am confident that we will produce the result that our fans need when we approach the game in this way,” he said.

Winning a first league title in eight years is very much high on the mind of the former Wa All Stars defender, and he is urging for a collective effort from the players in an attempt to achieve this.

“If we are to win the GPL title at the end of the season, we will have to fight for it to the end, and, I urge my colleagues to step up a gear or two to challenge for the ultimate,” he added.

“There is everything to play for this second round, and, we should make the most of this opportunity to make history with Accra Hearts of Oak,” he charged.

 

Richard Akrofi Calls For More Aggression From Hearts Players

We Must Keep Building Our Momentum - Richard Akrofi

Accra Heart of Oak centre back Richard Akrofi has urged his teammates to keep building a winning mentality after calling off the bluff of Aduana Stars on Sunday.

Hearts of Oak played a very determined game at Dormaa on Sunday to run away with a well-deserved point and with spirits high in the team’s camp ahead of the last two games of the first round of the Premiership competition, the former All Stars defender is urging for the winning mentality to be sustained as they fight for the Premiership title.

Cosmos Dauda cancelled out Emmanuel Akuoko’s first half opener to give Hearts a point on the day that not many expected the Phobians to walk away with anything.

Asked about the team’s fighting momentum,, Akrofi said: “I hope it continues – but the main thing is we wanted to get a win. We knew it was going to be hard, Aduana is a good team and made life difficult for us, but we managed to get a point”.

“We want to keep winning as a team and keep a winning mentality going. We will be looking towards our next game against Liberty on Thursday and looking at getting a win and keeping that progression going into the last game against Dreams FC,” he said.

“For now the focus is Liberty and nothing else. With the team we have got we are capable of going forward,” he added.

He said: “It was a good point earned against a tough side. Of course there is stuff we can work on, we know that, but overall I thought we were the better side and we deserved the win just that we could not get it but all the same we were not disappointed”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Must Keep Building Our Momentum - Richard Akrofi

Soulama "World Class" Howler Pour Acid On Hearts

The stars are bright, but that of Soulama Abdulaye are scurried. His howler late into the first half was the only goal recorded in the ‘Super Clash’ as Hearts were left licking the bottom the of the meal served by the Premier league board (PLB).

A football-loving fan relish a clash between the two most glamorous clubs in the history of Ghana football, and they made that presence when the two sides met at the  Accra sports stadium.

The boom that accompanied the game erupted the atmosphere, and the vociferous spectators coloured the four corners of the country’s Wembley.

Accra Hearts of Oak began the game on the front foot, creating early openings, forcing fans of the Porcupine Warriors to chew their nails in the stands.

The dominance was curtailed by an eaty injury to Owusu Bempah who had to be replaced by Kennedy Appiah.

The Phobians continued from where they left off before the injury rudely interrupted the flow of the game. Experienced Samuel Yeboah was denied by the cross bar in the 8th minute. A super free kick from Isaac Mensah danced its way onto forehead, but his timing was kindergarten-like as he powered it on the cross bar.

Hearts of Oak came close again after a brilliant attack initiated by Isaac Mensah. The ‘Ashaiman Messi’ as he is affectionately called, lobbed the ball over the back line of Asante Kotoko, sending Yeboah one-on-one with Ernest Sowah in Kotoko’s post, however, blasted the ball into vacuum.

Kotoko began stringing passes much to the delight of the fully packed Accra sports stadium. But they lacked the ingredient required to serve a better meal.

Isaac Mensah was a thorn on the flesh of Kotoko and forced Edwin Tuffour into two quick clumsy challenges and he was booked on both occasions, which saw him sent off the pitch dejected.

Kotoko were not down spirited with 10-men, and forced Hearts into childish mistakes. They pimped forward and grabbed the a goal on the run of play.

A lob by Theophilus Nyame into the Hearts area and follow up by Dauda Mohammed forced Richard Akrofi to pass the ball back to his goalkeeper, Soulaman Abdulah, but the glovesman mistimed the ball and scissor kicked it into his own net, and the roof of the stadium was erupted. There was nothing more before recess.

Hearts came out of their blocks gunning for the needed equaliser, but Cosmos Dauda sold his goal-getting boots, fluffing all the glorious chances.

The Phobians were on course to drawing level, however, the heat from the spectators unsettled their play. Kotoko fans hooted at every miss kick and their loss of ideas could be felt.

Michael Osei deviced the strategy of intercepting passes rather than winning the ball, and it worked to perfection as Hearts were frustrated. However they created the chances required, but failed to convert them.

At the other end of the pitch, a dinking ball from left back Eric Donkor beat the defensive line of Hearts of Oak and Dauda Mohammed capitalized.  Souaman Abdulah raced off his line to curtail the danger, but he ended fouling Dauda, giving Awal Mohammed no option than to reduce them to ten men.

The resulting free kick was harmless. Hearts attacked through the left flank with Ashittey Olenu who came on for Sarbah Laryea.

The winger drove in a ferocious cross, but the unmarked Cosmas Dauda failed to score. Dauda Mohammed could have doubled Kotoko’s lead, but Samuel Akurugu pulled off a super save to keep the game at the reach of Hearts.

The Phobians huffed and puffed but were unable to grab the equaliser, and Kotoko leave the Accra sports stadium with all points, extending Hearts’ wait to beat them at the venue to seven years.

Soulama "World Class" Howler Pour Acid On Hearts

Richard Akrofi Happy To Join Hearts of Oak

Accra Hearts defender, Richard Akrofi says the decision he opted to sign for the capital club has been a good one as his excellent displays for the Phobians has proved.

Akrofi, who signed a three-year deal with Hearts of Oak in the last transfer window, has been a main stay at the heart of the teams defence, forming a solid partnership with club captain, Robin Gnange.

His partnership at the rear of the Hearts of Oak defence with the Ivorian has so far ensured that the Phobians are one of only two clubs yet to concede a goal after three games in the ongoing Ghana Premier League.

And Akrofi has said his decision to sign for the Phobians is proven to be the best of his career so far, and, will continue to work even harder to improve on his output.

He was once again excellent in last Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Ebusua Dwarfs at the Cape Coast Robert Mensah Stadium, as he put up a solid display to keep the attackers of Dwarfs at bay.

”After I signed my contract, there were some who criticised me for taking what they termed a wrong move to the capital club,” he told the club’s official newspaper, the Hearts News.

Akrofi joined Hearts on a three year deal from Wa All Stars and has not struggled for consistency since joining the Phobians in January convincing many with his output at the heart of the Hearts defence.

“The comments passed on my movement to the Phobians are what are urging me on to give off my best at all times, and, I promise to work even harder to become one of the best defenders in the country,” he said.

“A lot has been written and a lot has been said about me and Hearts of Oak when I opted to come here – I think so far I have been able to give a clear answer on my behalf and to all who doubted me and what I could do for this great club,” he told the club’s mouthpiece.

Richard Akrofi Happy To Join Hearts of Oak

Samudeen, Akrofi Can Make Black Stars Squad

Former Accra Hearts of Oak corporate affairs and marketing manager, Joe Addo has mentioned Samudeen and Akrofi as potential national team players that can easily ft into the squad.

 

Samudeen Ibrahim and Richard Akrofi have both started life in the premier league on a high note and their perfromances have not gone unnoticed with many suggesting a call-up to the Black stars squad even if to make the substitute bench and this will be a motivating factor to the rest of the players who ply their trade locally.

 

Joe Addo who played for and recognised as a club legend with Accra Hearts of Oak has named a few players who have excelled this early in the season to be given a look when the call-up to the Black stars is released later this month.

 

Addo in an interview with Boss fm said, “I will use my position with Hearts as an example and will mention Richard Akrofi, Samudeen Ibrahim as players in the local league who can make it in the Black stars squad. Samudeen is a talented footballer whilst Akrofi will easily fit in at the back four. Some of the players who get the national call-up squad just warm the bench and should be replaced with talented players from the domestic league instead.

 

“I know Baba Mahama with Techiman city and other talented players with Sekondi Hasaacas in addition to the Hearts duo will excite some of the fans that admire them and this will draw fans to the stadium and this makes me believe if the competition is opened fairly – fairly means if the competition is opened for some of the local players to compete with the foreign based players I think some of the local lads can fit into the team.”

Samudeen, Akrofi Can Make Black Stars Squad