By Patrick Akoto
Samson Cudjoe has admitted Hearts must pick themselves up and get back to the Premier League title.
Hearts have slipped to third on the table after an unflattering performance during their first round of the Ghanaian top-tier.
The side lost back-to-back in December 2013 but midfielder Samson Cudjoe says they must meet the challenge of the Premier League crown.
"This is a new year and we need to buck up," Cudjoe told the club's official website.
"The playing body is the engine of the team, and we bring results. We are going to work hard with dedication and discipline, and we hope to get a level of consistency that will keep us in the hunt in the second round.
"It has been a hectic first round for us with ups and downs. We cannot go back and repair anything; we need to just move on, and work hard to avoid a repetition of our mistakes. We have to work hard to get back into the run for the title.
"We do not have to target the first three games or five games; our target should be the next fifteen games we are going to play in the second round. We are not keeping an eye on whoever is on top; we must be focused on our very own game and determine our results. We had a good record on the road in the first round, but we can also improve on our home form.
"It is a different mentality all together for us in the New Year. We are ready to give 200% and see how it goes at the end of the season."
He added: "The fans should always keep supporting and we are pleading with them to stick by us. Like the motto of our club says, 'never say die until the bones are rotten,' we must never give up. We would restore something to the Club before the season ends."
Hearts will tackle All Stars when the Ghana Premier League resumes on February 9.