STORY BY EMMANUEL BAAH-ABOAGYE, FOLLOW ME @EMMABAAHABOAGYE
Ex-Kotoko skipper Joseph Hendricks has credited former Hearts stars for his greatness on the domestic scene.
The former gritty and robust centre-back, on Tuesday told Dunkwa-based Solar Fm that the former Hearts of Oak quartet of Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Ishmael Addo, Charles Asampong Taylor, Bernard Don Bortey and to some extent, former King Faisal striker Eric Gawu light up the Ghana Premier League and proved torns in the flesh of defenders.
“During that time, Hearts of Oak boasted of deadly forwards in Osei Kuffour, Don Bortey, Ishmael Addo and Charles Taylor, who could tear apart any defence in the Ghana Premier League. King Faisal’s Eric Gawu cannot be overlooked as well. He was once a tormentor and a good dribbler in the game, who also keep defenders running at him”, he pointed out.
“Their presence on the field of play always kept defenders on their toes and that was how I became great. One’s ability to clamp them down and keep them in check increased my stock and recognition in the Premier League. They were very popular among the fan base and so any defender who could keep them at bay easily got noticed and that was how I rose to fame in the Ghana Premier League”, he continued.
“Anytime I was going to square up against these lads, I psyched up my mind that I was duty-bound to stop their marauding runs on the field of play and for me these were great players who made the Ghana Premier League one of the best on the continent. In all, these talented lads brought out the best in me anytime I played against them. They made me great”, he emphasized.
In a related development, the former hard tackler has urged the Kotoko defencemen to see every Hearts of Oak striker in the May 2 epic meeting, as Emmanuel Osei, Charles Taylor, Ishmael Addo and Don Bortey and be extra careful to keep them in check.
“Hearts of Oak beat Kotoko 4-0 unexpectedly due to the form of Kotoko and such a score line could be repeated if the defencemen of Kotoko take the current crop of Hearts strikers for granted. They must play as if they are marking the likes of Osei Kuffour, Ishmael Addo, Don Bortey and Charles Taylor because Hearts of Oak are currently on top form”, he advised.
Hearts of Oak play Kotoko on Monday, May 2 in the 54th meeting in the Ghana Premier League at the Accra Sports Stadium.