Hearts: Yaw Preko Vows To Change Players" Mentality

Newly-appointed interim coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Yaw Preko, expressed his displeasure at his players’ body language in his first training session.

Preko was elevated from his assistant coaching role of the club to an interim coach after the demotion of head trainer, Sergio Traguil to the club’s feeder side, Auroras FC, for non-performance in his nine-match tenure.

And, in his first training session as interim coach of the club today, Yaw Preko assured fans that his players’ body demeanor will change before the GPL resumes, as the team begins stern preparation for the last three games of the league.

“The players’ body language is something that we have talked about. It is something that we have to work on because we still have less time to do that. I’m sure that by next week before the Dwarfs game, we’d be ready“, Preko said.

He was then asked whether his team will go for the kill in the final three games after the supporters’ front of the club threatened to abandon their games amid management instability.

“The fans should not lose hope. This is Accra Hearts of Oak, and our motto is “Never Say Die” and we’re aware that we’ve performed below our level“, he said.

“They should support and come in their numbers and they should bring the Hearts of Oak spirit in these last three games and I believe if they come in their numbers to ginger the boys, they would also get the best out of the boys.

“I believe with the good support of the fans, and I’ve seen Hearts of Oak when it comes to support from the fans and how far they can go and take them. And I want to tell them to continue giving that support,” Preko concluded.

Hearts of Oak will host Ebusua Dwarfs at the Accra sports stadium when the league resumes and hope for a win in boosting their ambition of winning the Ghana Premier League title.

Hearts: Yaw Preko Vows To Change Players" Mentality

Smoke Peace Pie With Ken - Togbe Tells Hearts SC

The Board Chairman of Hearts of Oak, Togbe Afede XIV has told the Strategic Committee of the club and head coach Kenichi Yatsushashi to smoke the peace pipe.

There is friction between the Strategic Committee and the Japanese-American trainer over the latter’s alleged disdain towards his employers.

He was almost shown the exit door last week, but after a crunch meeting, the decision was overturned due to some powerful football people intervention.

Sportscrusader.com was told that Mr. Togbe who had earlier sanctioned the Strategic Committee’s decision told them he has ‘no money to pay any severance package’.

It is believed his last minute change of mind divided the hierarchy of the club, with some saying he has tainted their image to the public.

Tempers were high after the meeting, and Togbe allowed the dust to settle before asking the two different parties to smoke the peace pipe and work together to achieve the club’s targets.

But some officials of the club insist they cannot work with Kenichi, and has threatened to resign.

Smoke Peace Pie With Ken - Togbe Tells Hearts SC

Hearts Players Lack Attitude - Amakwah Mireku

Former Hearts of Oak skipper, Amankwah Mireku has blamed the club’s current predicament on lack of good attitude from the playing body.

Accra Hearts of Oak has gone about seven seasons without a major silverware — a span which is alien to the clubs fans.

Football connoisseurs and fans of the club has put the blame squarely at the doors of majority shareholder Togbe Afede XIV because the Clubs failure to lift a trophy began when he took over the mantle of administration in 2009.

But Amankwah Mireku who captained the team to defeat Esperance Sportive de Tunis in 2000 to win the CAf Champions League believes the decline of the club is down to lack of attitude on the part of the players.

“Football demands attitude, without it you can’t give off your best and I think that’s what players of Hearts of Oak of today lack,” Amankwah Mireku told Joy FM.

Amankwah Mireku, regarded as the most successful captain in the 104 years history of the Accra Hearts of Oak believes if the club has six Robin Gnagnes, they won’t have problems competing against the best in the country.

“If Hearts of Oak has six Robin Gnagnes, the club won’t have problems or they won’t be underperforming.” He noted.

He also called on fans of the club to go behind the team with prayers.

“The only thing Hearts of Oak fans can wish for is for the players to have the attitude to play for the club and all will be well. They should back the team with prayers and hope for the best.” He said.

Hearts Players Lack Attitude - Amakwah Mireku

Togbe Afede Has Killed Hearts - Harry Zakkour

Former Board member of Accra Hearts of Oak, Harry Zakkour has accused majority shareholder of the club, Togbe Afede XIV of sending it to the grave.

Accra Hearts of Oak dominated local football in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and conquered the rest of Africa within the same period.

There were reports that the club owed many administrators and shares were floated for interested parties to take over leadership. Togbe Afede XI V,  who Harry Zakkour claim he brought to the club, bought majority shares.

But since then, the 2000 CAF Champions League winners have lost the impetus that made them the best club in the country.

And Harry Zakkour, who was part of the board that led the club to greater heights, has accused incumbent Board Chairman, Togbe Afede of being responsible for the decline.

“He is the highest shareholder of the club and he makes the decisions for the club. Many of us have spent millions of money in the club but we have never declared anything in the club, Togbe Afede says nobody can touch him because he is the majority shareholder, okay nobody can touch him but he messing up the club,” Harry Zakkour told Happy FM.

“He is playing with the club, he is toying with the club. Togbe has killed Accra Hearts of Oak, he is toying toying with the club because doesn’t know his left and right and he expect us to sit down and let the club sink. People are watching him from the wall,” He added.

Harry Zakkour also claim that if Togbe Afede had a colour like his, he wouldn’t be spared. However, he has asked him to get his acts rights to return the club to it’s glory days.

He also bemoaned the constant sacking of board members, coaches and players. He said that will be a solution to clear the path to success.

“He thinks if he has has color like mine, he thinks he can walk in Accra? People will insult him left and right. Togbe should sit well and invite the old directors to come and help this club and stop changing management, technical team and sacking players. Sacking people from the club cannot solve the problem.

“Togbe said he has bought the club and believes as the owner he can solve the problems of the club. He should solve the problems, if he can’t, then he should leave the club and go queue for his money like the way some of us have queued and waiting for our money.”

Accra has won only one league title since the 2008/2009 season.

Togbe Afede Has Killed Hearts - Harry Zakkour

I am Not Surprised At Ankrah"s Resignation - Harry Zakkour

Former Board member of Accra Hearts of Oak, Harry Zakkour says he not surprised Managing Director Gerald Ankrah resigned from his position earlier this week.

Gerald Ankrah, who replaced Neil Armstrong last year, relinquished his position on Monday for reasons best known to him though inside sources claim he acted swiftly to avoid embarrassment of being sacked.

It is alleged that majority shareholder Togbe Afede XIV style of leadership is autocratic, and that’s why board members of the club leave their post.

“It is not news [Gerald Ankrah resigned]. At last my own friend Gerald Ankrah has totally resigned from Accra Hearts of Oak,” Harry Zakkour told Happy FM.

Togbe Afede XI V is the highest shareholder of Accra Hearts of Oak, and he has final say on who should help steer the affairs of the club.

Harry Zakkour believes that Togbe Afede has destroyed the 2000 Champions League winners because he has no locus in football administration. He also called on the Togbe to bring back the old directors to steer the sinking ship.

“He is the highest shareholder of the club and he makes the decisions for the club. Many of us have spent millions of money in the club but we have never declared anything in the club, Togbe Afede says nobody says nobody can touch him because he is the majority shareholder, okay nobody can touch him but he messing up the club.

“He is playing with the club, he is toying with the club. Togbe has killed Accra Hearts of Oak, he is toying toying with the club because doesn’t know his left and right and he expect us to sit down and let the club sink. People are watching him from the wall.

“He thinks if he has has color like mine, he thinks he can walk in Accra? People will insult him left and right. Togbe should sit well and invite the old directors to come and help this club and stop changing management, technical team and sacking players. Sacking people from the club cannot solve the problem.

Togbe said he has bought the club and believes as the owner he can solve the problems of the club.

“He should solve the problems, if he can’t, then he should leave the club and go queue for his money like the way some of us have queued and waiting for our money.

“He is the owner, but he has forgotten that when the shares were floated some of us are owed about hundreds of dollars which we have not been paid; he hasn’t given us a penny.

“We cannot talk because we are not shareholders, we are not directors, and have to sit on the wall, see the big mess he is doing to Accra Hearts of Oak. I brought him to Accra Hearts of Oak and I wasn’t expecting him to do this big mess,” disappointed Harry Zakkour said.

I am Not Surprised At Ankrah"s Resignation - Harry Zakkour

I Will Serve Any Position To Rejuvenate Hearts - Fawaz

Former Hearts of Oak Board Member Alhaji Fawaz Zowk has promised to give the club’s fans his full backing in their bid to take over ownership of the club from current Board Chairman Togbe Afede over the club’s managerial crisis.

Many board members of the club have resigned in the past six years, and some believe majority shareholder Togbe Afede XIV ‘autocratic’ style of leadership has led the club to it’s current predicament.

The club has also changed coaches  and changed the playing body within the same period in a quest to return to Hearts of Oak of yesteryear.

But nothing seems to be working. Earlier this week, Managing Director of the club Gerald Ankrah resigned from his post for reasons spokesperson of the club termed as ‘personal’ whilst media reports suggested that he took that decision to honorably relinquish his position due to poor conditions.

Others claim he was at the verge being sacked and he acted swiftly to avoid embarrassment.

And the former Board Member , Fawaz Zowk who was part of the club’s successful campaign in 2000 and 2004 CAF inter-club football competitions journey says Togbe Afede XIV is an educated illiterate.

“I’m ready to serve the club at any position as far as my advised will be taking. I’m coming to Ghana to help the supporters to get the club back to its glory days, I have spent my life at this club I will not sit down for my darling club to get relegated. We not have gone to University but we have brains to run the club,” Fawaz told Happy FM.

“He has to hand over the club to us (old administrators) if we make money we will pay him (Togbe Afede) off to leave the club, and if he fails to do so the supporters should boycott the club’s training and matches and Insha Allahu Hearts of Oak will be well,” he added.

Hearts of Oak has not won a premier crown nor any other silverware since the Premier League successin 2009.

They finished 13th on the premier league last season, a position the clubf aithfuls believes is way below the standard of the club.

I Will Serve Any Position To Rejuvenate Hearts - Fawaz