Mas Ud-Didi Dramani was introduced as the top coach of Hearts of Oak on June 20, 2025. On July 6, he led Hearts to a 2-1 loss to Kotoko within the President’s Cup.
Six weeks later, he met Kotoko once more. This time, with a distinct end result, a 2-0 win backed by a strong efficiency.
4 new gamers, George Paaku (previously of Accra Lions), Abdul Karim (signed from Nations F.C.), Mohammed Ali (from Golden Kick), and Frank Duku (signed from Imaginative and prescient F.C.), shaped the backbone of a brand new look workforce that embodied the long-lost spirit of Hearts of Oak.
Mohammed Ali’s partnership with Kelvin Osei-Asibey was glorious. They saved Kotoko’s entrance two of Albert Amoah and Kwame Opoku at bay. Between them, Kotoko’s strikers didn’t register a single shot on track in 90 minutes and 5 extra minutes.
Asibey and Ali had been continually respiration down their neck.
Not like the July 6 affair, the Hearts backline didn’t panic when beneath strain. They had been resolute and restricted Kotoko to hopeful crosses and lengthy balls, thanks in no small half to the primary line of help.
That’s the place Abdul Karim and George Paaku deserve credit score.
It was not precisely a clinic, however there was rather a lot to take from his efficiency.
When pressed, take a second and spin away from the onrushing participant.
No choices in sight? Carry the ball ahead with shut management.
Essentially, scan round and get an excellent view of the actions and choices round earlier than you obtain the ball.
Nothing spectacular. Simply the fundamentals each midfielder ought to have.
And so they did all of it.
Additional up the pitch, Frank Duku’s actions off the ball had been a refreshing break from the norm. He was extra interested by discovering house and mixing along with his teammates than profitable offers.
Earlier than lengthy, his intelligence was rewarded when he sneaked in behind the usually dependable Samba O’neil to fireplace house the opener.
Fuseini Zakari’s anticipation, or the shortage of it, was partly accountable, however with out Duku’s perseverance, there is no such thing as a hazard.
Every week in the past, it was the identical trait that punished Coronary heart of Lions as Hearts received the match.
Sources on the membership have confirmed that his harm shouldn’t be as dangerous as initially feared.
When he returns, the prospect of Duku lining up alongside Prince Kwabena Owusu ought to excite followers.
Hearts will rejoice each win in opposition to Kotoko, however the circumstances previous this one gave it an additional spice.
Breaking the streak
Sunday’s win ended a run of 4 winless video games in opposition to Kotoko.
Actually, earlier than Hamza Issa’s purpose within the President’s Cup on July 6, Hearts had not scored a purpose in opposition to Asante Kotoko since Martin Karikari’s effort sneaked previous Danlad Ibrahim in December 2023.
As for wins in aggressive video games, you would need to go way back to June 2021, when Afriyie Barnieh’s winner successfully ended Kotoko’s title hopes and secured it for Hearts of Oak.
That’s the reason Didi Dramani wanted to win this match, irrespective of the fee.
But, for all they did to win this, their pleasure was considerably incomplete.
They’re champions and not using a trophy.
GHALCA’s gaffe
Per the competitors guidelines, matches that finish in draw are to be decided by penalties, with the winner being awarded a further level one they earned in regulation time. The dropping workforce nonetheless will get a degree for his or her effort in regulation time.
In subservience to the Ghana Soccer Affiliation’s common competitors guidelines, GHALCA’s foremost tie breaker for the event was the head-to-head rule.
So strictly talking, GHALCA had been proper to declare Bibiani Gold Stars as champions although they received one match fewer than Hearts of Oak, and conceded extra objectives than the Phobians, and completed stage on factors.
The issue, although, is that utilizing penalty kicks to find out the face to face in a contest that’s not performed with a knockout format is fairly odd.
This two-way cut up of factors is counterproductive.
The present format of the competitors is a slap within the face of true sporting advantage. Hearts received probably the most matches, scored the (joint) most objectives, and conceded the fewest objectives. But, Gold Stars, who drew extra matches than they received, are champions as a result of they drew 2-2 with Hearts however received on penalties.
Past GHALCA’s indiscretion, questions should be requested concerning the golf equipment that agreed to this.
How did skilled soccer executives who presumably know what their jobs agreed to this?
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Feedback, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform don’t essentially signify the views or coverage of Multimedia Group Restricted.
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