Players of Hearts of Oak pose for a team photo before a game
As Hearts of Oak continues to struggle, Prince Tagoe, a former striker for the club, has called for reforms within its leadership.
Tagoe enjoyed great success during his time at Hearts of Oak, winning the CAF Confederations Cup and the league title.
However, the glory days, when Hearts of Oak dominated Ghanaian football, are now a distant memory.
Although the club has had moments of success, including their 2021 league title under Samuel Boadu, they have failed to establish themselves as one of Africa’s elite teams.
This prompted Tagoe to urge the club’s chairman, Togbe Afede XIV, to bring in new personnel with innovative ideas to restore Hearts of Oak to its former glory.
Speaking on Sports Check on GhanaWeb, Tagoe called for the removal of board members Vincent Sowah-Odotei and Alhaji Imoro Brimah, popularly known as Alhaji Akambi, if they do not stop interfering with player policies. He identified their outdated leadership as the root of the club’s problems.
“If Togbe Afede wants to keep those people around, they shouldn’t come close to player selection and signing decisions. They should leave everything to the manager. If not, all those people need to be sacked,” he said.
Tagoe also advocated for a complete overhaul of the club’s leadership, replacing the old guard with innovative thinkers.
“We’re not running football with a mindset from the ’60s battalions, you have to change it. So many things have evolved since my time.
“If the CEO is working with them and you’re not getting results, you need to make changes. Every team, when there’s a problem and progress isn’t being made, makes changes.
“You can’t keep these old men there and think they have the best solutions for the new generation.
“They should remove everyone and bring in new people who are ready to work and who won’t interfere with the coach’s decisions,” Tagoe added.
Hearts of Oak’s last league triumph came in 2021, when Samuel Boadu led them to their 21st title, their first in eleven years. The club currently sits fourth in the Ghana Premier League standings, with 18 points after 11 games.
Watch the full interview below:
Sports Check with Prince Tagoe: The fall of the Black Stars and captaincy brouhaha
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