Ghana Premier League giants Accra Hearts Of Oak had the poorest of seasonal performances last season as things went all the way to the last day of the season before the Phobians secured a place in the Ghana Premier League.
The conditions surrounding their 3-2 victory over Bechem United as their last match of the season was more or less an embarrassing one. Bechem United conceded poor goals.
However, Hearts of Oak’s problems go beyond that. With just 27 points earned during the season, the Phobians were the second-worst home team performer. They were far worse away from home, having only managed 18 points in sixteen games. That equates to a point on average every game.
Over the past ten years, the notion of Hearts being demoted has evolved from a theoretical idea to a nearly tangible reality with last season’s relegation scare being the most scary one.
Causes Of Heart’s problems
Poor management
There are allegations of corruption, poor management, and a lack of transparency in Ghana’s football administration and governance. These problems are evident within football clubs in Ghana and Hearts Of Oak particularly. These issues have impeded the growth and development of the sport and led to a lack of responsibility.The present board of Hearts Of Oak is new and cannot accept responsibility for this. However, the members who were retained from the previous board are not immune to guilt. This is the result of their efforts. Their recruitment policies, if any, and management procedures.
Frequent change of coaches
There seem to be three reasons why these dismissals happen, despite the fact that firing the head coach of a top football team during the season could seriously disrupt the stability of the team, players, and organisation [9]. These elements have to do with three things:
Increasing player motivation as they want to find favour in the sight of new coaches, improving performance in light of recent results and an unsatisfactory league position and addressing the unhappiness of sponsors, fans, and key stakeholders. However, these haven’t favoured Hearts as sometimes their expertise were below par, technical, physical, and psychological aspects weren’t successful as well as issues of language barrier.
Poor player recruitment
Recruitment of relegation-calibre players to perform miracles have not worked the magic for Hearts Of Oak. A couple of times players are signed from lower tier league to play for Hearts Of Oak but their potentials are just not enough despite chances to improve. The inability of the team to scout the best of players locally and on the foreign front has seen the club sign players below the set standard. What we see now is the outcome of the fostering of a mediocrity-centered culture. Unlike other teams, underperforming players are given contract extensions and their stay only cost the club financially.
Solutions and recommendations
Squad reorganisation
There need to be a revamp of the current team. Some players just do not deserve to wear the Hearts Of Oak jersey. There are still some excellent players there, even though the great bulk of them would not withstand a thorough evaluation. The good players can be affected by the club’s toxic culture. Notwithstanding the appalling circumstances at the club. With the correct technical direction,the good players will excel.
Critical player scouting and signing
Clubs may find it thrilling to recruit new players since it gives them the chance to bolster their present squad and add some new quality. Hearts must use the off season as an opportunity to reflect on the previous season and identify the weakest points in their organisation that need to be strengthened especially their defence and goalkeeping departments. There are a lot of considerations to make when selecting the ideal player to meet this goal, including the transfer fee, the player’s salary, the duration of the contract, position/role, etc. But the greater consideration is how they would “fit” into your present squad as well as team culture.
For a team fraught with too much issues, not forgetting its pedigree in Ghana and Africa it is logical to state that it will take quiet sometime for the Phobians to reclaim their place in African football and surely the earlier the solve the many issues the better.
