By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1 on twitter
The pre-season performance of Accra Hearts of Oak has been a major issue of concern to followers of Ghana football and Phobians in particular following their failure to win a game in their last six encounters, conceding 11 goals and scoring only three.
The fans conduct, which has always been expected, has not been the best as many have called for the sacking of the current Japanese trainer 'King' Kenichi Yatsuhashi.
I have always maintained that a team will obviously improve, even, with the worse materials if a particular coach is given time to work. Based on this, I strongly think King Keni should be left alone to work and surely Phobia will be Phobia again.
Before his appointment, I spoke to the Managing Director of the club Gerald Ankrah about why I think it is wrong to recruit players for a coach who barely knows the terrain within which he is to operate. He argued that every good coach must be able to work with any material he is provided. It is worth knowing that the coach has so far sacked close to 30 old and new players and that explains why it is always good for a coach to recruit his own players. But King Keni’s case was different as he could bare do his own recruitment.
A personal visit to the team's training grounds at the Ajax Park at the University of Ghana gave me a clear picture of what King Keni is up to.
Am not advocating for the coach but I always believe that the marriage between consistency and continuity gives birth to a formidable team and results. And should King Keni be given the needed time and support, the fortunes of the Phobians shall surely be transformed.
Scanning through the players at the training grounds and their level of fitness, as a Physical Education student of the University of Education, Winneba, informed me that before the league starts, the Rainbow Family will present a better force than what we saw last season.
Just take your time and look at the following sets of players;
Squad A -
Soulama Abdoulaye (Gk), Fatau Mohanmed, Isaac Oduro, Richard Akrofi, Robin Gnagne, Sarbahn Laryeah, Thomas Abbey, Mustapha Essuman, Foovi Aguidi, Bashiru Osman, Bismark Idan
Squad B -
Samuel Akurugu/Mutawakilu Seidu, Isaac Badu, Boakye Kennedy, Boampong Philip, Inusah Musah, Richard Yamoah, Eric Kumi, Ashittey Olenu, Samuel Yeboah, Selasie Adjei, Isaac Mensah
Do not get me wrong with just the names, I have monitored their performance and I was convinced after watching them train under King Keni for the whole of last week.
Just look at my Squad A.
The experience of Mustapha Essuman alone makes him a starter in any of the teams locally. His tactical understanding and leadership on the field alone is convincing. I was not surprised then when King Keni said he would love all the other players to play like him.
He is a real organizer and his role on the field observed at the training grounds compelled me to believe that Hearts will not be that bad when the seasons zooms off.
Having a blend of experience and youthfulness is the dream of every coach, even Arsene Wenger.
With Soulama in post for the Phobians, King Keni is always assured of an organizer at the back while Fatawu Mohammed competes with captain Owusus Bempah for the right back position leaving the left back position for Isaac Oduro with little competition from newbie Kennedy Boakye.
Richard Akrofi was excellent for Wa All Stars last season and his youthfulness plus the experience of Robin Gnagne will surely be the padlock to the goalposts of the Phonians.
Should King Keni decide to rely on the combative advantage of Sarbahn Laryeah for the holding midfield role, Mustapha Essuman will have the opportunity to employ his organizational skills in midfield while Thomas Abbey and Bismark Idan lubricate the flanks with their thunderous moves leaving the top job for Bashiru Osman and Foovi Aguidi, the Phobian fraternity will sure call Keni the 'KING' at the end of the season.
Granted that King Keni would love to play the 4:4:2 system as I have noted above, then promising Isaac 'Messi' Mensah and the most improved player of Hearts last season Eric Kumi will have to warm the bench. Well, that means Keni has options on the bench too. A good team must always have a good bench.
My impression after watching the team train for five days affirms the fact that it does not appear very gloomy as many will perceive and granted that the team's performance in the first game in the G6 against Aduana Stars and the second game against Ahli Tripoli is anything to go by, then Keni is right in saying that Ghanaians think the team is bad because their best games were not seen.
As a student of the game with an elementary coaching experience, I strongly believe that the team will peak at the right time for the league.
Team building is obviously about time and with the appropriate patience, I trust King Keni to relive the Phobian Glory.
PHOOOOOOOBIA!!!!!