FootyDream

Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko striker, Stephen Amankona, has confirmed that Accra Hearts of Oak, a Ghana Premier League side, has expressed interest in acquiring his services for the upcoming 2023/24 season.

Responding to the rumors linking him to the Rainbow club, the former GPL winner stated, “Yes, some of their leaders, including Samuel Inkoom, have held talks with me,” confirming the contact with Ghanasportspage.com.

Amankona also expressed his eagerness to play for the 2020/21 champions, saying, “Accra Hearts of Oak is a big club, and I’m ready. The most important thing is the deal. If the deal is good, I will join them.”

Following an unsuccessful spell at Asante Kotoko, Amankonah returned to Berekum Chelsea in January. Prior to signing for the Porcupine Warriors two seasons ago, the 23-year-old attacker played a crucial role for the Bibires in the Ghanaian top-flight during the 2020/21 season, scoring 10 goals in 28 matches and helping them reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

His potential acquisition would boost the frontline of Accra Hearts of Oak, who faced challenges in the just-ended campaign. After discussing with the player, the Rainbow club is now expected to submit a bid to Berekum Chelsea to secure the attacker.

Ghana Premier League club Nsoatreman have announced the appointment of Eric Alagidede as their new General Manager.

The young and dynamic football administrator is set to bring his expertise to the club, with the aim of fostering professionalism and achieving success.

Prior to taking up this position, Alagidede served as the Chief Executive of second division team Koforidua Suhyen Sporting Club and also as the Communication Manager of Karela United, a club in the Ghanaian top flight.

With his wealth of experience in football administration, Nsoatreman is hopeful that Alagidede’s appointment will contribute significantly to the club’s growth and achievements.

Nsoatreman had an impressive season last term, reaching the FA Cup semi-final, and they are eager to build on this success in the upcoming season.

With the recent appointment of experienced coach Maxwell Konadu and now Eric Alagidede as General Manager, expectations are running high for a successful campaign in the league.

The two will be unveiled on Sunday.

As the new General Manager, Eric Alagidede is determined to lead Nsoatreman with dedication and professionalism, ensuring that the club continues to progress and achieve greater feats in the Ghana Premier League.

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Hearts of Oak, the Ghana Premier League giants, are on the verge of announcing Paul Osahoun Aigbogun as their new head coach, according to reports in the local media.

Aigbogun, a former assistant coach for the Nigerian Super Eagles, will be taking over from David Ocloo, who served as an interim manager following Slavko Matic’s departure. Despite their struggles, the Phobians narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the previous season.

The 21-time Ghana Premier League champions are currently undergoing a major overhaul at the club and are scheduled to unveil a new technical team next week, with Paul Aigbogun set to lead the coaching staff.

Aigbogun, aged 51, boasts an impressive coaching career in Nigeria, having managed prominent clubs like Warri Wolves and two-time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba. He was also appointed as the Nigeria U20 coach in 2019 and led the team to the Round of 16 at the 2019 U-20 World Cup, in addition to recently managing Danish 2nd Division side Jammerbugt FC.

During his playing days, Aigbogun made a mark in American football, signing with the Northern Nevada Aces in 2002 and later playing for lower league sides such as Nevada Wonders and San Francisco Seals.

Additionally, Hearts of Oak is reportedly in talks with Laryea Kingson for the assistant coach role in the upcoming 2023/24 season, while also having appointed Dutchman Rene Hiddink as the Sporting Director.

The Phobians are preparing for the new season and will commence pre-season training once Paul Aigbogun’s appointment is officially confirmed.

Hearts of Oak Captain, Gladson Awako says he is looking to work under a new coach following reports of his departure.

It was earlier reported that the player was on the verge of parting ways with the Phobians despite joining two years ago from Great Olympics.

In an interview with Kumasi-based Akoma FM, the 2009 U-20 World Cup winner, however, said he was focused on continuing with the clubs since he still had over a year more left on his contract.

“At the moment I’m still a player of Hearts of Oak, I have 14-15 months left. We don’t have a coach for now, a new coach might come with a new philosophy but I m happy to captain this great team”

“All I will say for now is that I’m still a Hearts of Oak player when the season starts we the fans should expect different team performances, we will give out our best as we have been doing always to make the club great again”

Awako saw limited playing time last season due to injury and could be fully ready in the new season.

Hearts of Oak finished 12th with 46 points and are looking to improve under a yet-to-be-announced coach.

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Hearts of Oak’s captain, Gladson Awako, has attributed the club’s dismal performance in the previous season to the abrupt departure of Serbian coach Slavko Matic. The Phobians began the campaign under the guidance of league-winning coach Samuel Boadu but made a change after the first few matches, replacing Boadu with Matic.

Regrettably, Matic’s tenure was short-lived as he was relieved of his post following Hearts of Oak’s 1-0 defeat to Great Olympics in a league game. Supporters took matters into their own hands and forcefully removed him from the club’s training grounds.

Subsequently, David Ocloo was named as the interim coach to steer the team. Under Ocloo’s guidance, Hearts of Oak finished the season in a disappointing 12th place, losing four of their last five matches and drawing one, narrowly escaping relegation on the final day of the league season against Berekum Chelsea.

In a candid conversation with Akoma FM, Awako expressed his frustration with the frequent changes in coaching staff, emphasizing the negative impact it had on the team’s performance.

Awako emphasized the importance of giving coaches sufficient time to implement their strategies and produce desired results, stating that expecting immediate magic or instant success after appointing a new coach is unrealistic.

He further pointed out that Slavko Matic’s departure had a particularly significant effect on the team’s performance. Under his guidance, the team had shown signs of improvement, moving up to the 3rd position before he left. However, with his departure, the team’s performance suffered, and they ended the season on a disappointing note.

“Too many changes in coaching impacted negatively on our performance last season. We started with Samuel Boadu, then later Matic who didn’t last long, followed by David Ocloo. All these coaches had different philosophies which warranted time for players to adapt and this affected our performance”

“We were improving under Matic, it was just unfortunate that he left, David Ocloo tried his best but because the pressure was too much it couldn’t work”

“Coaches needs time, you can’t appoint them and expect magic or instant results, so I feel the changes at the technical side and injuries affected our performance”

“Yes, the departure of Slavko Matic really affected us and it didn’t help at all. Before Matic we were at the 12th position but we moved to the 3rd position with him in charge and now see where we ended the season”

The constant changes in the coaching staff and injuries to players further compounded Hearts of Oak’s struggles during the season.

Awako’s remarks underscore the significance of stability and patience in the coaching setup to enable players to adapt and deliver consistent performances.

Bechem United, a prominent Ghana Premier League club, has set a price of $50,000 for their reliable defender, Kofi Agbesimah.

The 26-year-old has gained significant attention from various clubs due to his impressive performances for the Hunters in the previous season.

Agbesimah’s consistency since joining Bechem United in 2018 from Bectero FC has made him a highly sought-after player. Notably, Nsoatreman FC and Hearts of Oak are among the clubs interested in securing his services.

Francis Addae, the Director of Operations for Bechem United, emphasized that the club will not entertain any transfer offer below the set price of $50,000 for the talented defender. He believes Agbesimah’s exceptional skills as one of the best center-backs in the country justify the asking amount.

“We have informed Hearts of Oak about the transfer fee of our player. We have set a price tag of $50,000, so if they really need him they must be able to meet our demands. He deserves such amount because he is one of the best center-backs in the country at the moment” he told Kumasi FM.

As of now, Kofi Agbesimah has five-and-a-half months remaining on his current contract. Throughout his career in the Ghana Premier League, he has made 125 appearances, scoring six goals and providing one assist.