Former Board Member of Accra Hearts of Oak SC, Frank Nelson Nwokolo, has come to the defense of coach Aboubakar Ouattara, asserting that the club’s struggles in the Ghana Premier League should not be attributed solely to the coach.
After nine matches this season, Hearts of Oak have managed just two wins, three draws, and three losses, accumulating a mere 9 points out of a possible 24. This disappointing performance has led some fans to call for the sacking of the Burkinabe coach, blaming him for the team’s lack of results.
In an interview with Luv Sports, Nelson emphasized the need to examine the situation holistically rather than scapegoating the coaching staff. “First of all, I won’t blame the coach, I won’t blame the playing body, but we need to look at the problem holistically and know exactly where the problem is coming from,” he stated. He believes that the root of the issue lies in the club’s recruitment strategy, arguing that the quality of players currently on the roster is not up to the standard required for a club of Hearts of Oak’s stature.
“Well, I don’t think these are the best players in Ghana for Accra Hearts of Oak. Accra Hearts of Oak, I know in those days, is the club that goes for the best players,” he asserted, citing past signings like Yaw Sakyi from Kotoko and Eric Gawu from King Faisal as examples of the caliber of players the club should pursue.
Nelson urged the management to focus on acquiring experienced players who have proven themselves in the local league rather than signing from lower divisions. “Go for players who are tried and tested, not playing for Division One or Two clubs, but players who have tasted the premiership and achieved laurels with their clubs,” he advised.
Additionally, he called for a revamp of the club’s scouting strategy, suggesting that the club should not wait until the end of the season to overhaul the squad. “For instance, this season I know we recruited about fifteen players into the club, and that’s not the best for a club that wants to progress,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of consistency within the team.
As Accra Hearts of Oak prepares for their upcoming match against Medeama SC at the Tarkwa T&A Stadium, the club faces mounting pressure to improve their performance and reassure the fanbase of their commitment to success.
