By Ameenu Shardow
A couple of activities have been lineup to mark the centenary anniversary of Ghana’s oldest club, Hearts of Oak.
The clubs’ board, management, supporters and other dignitaries will open the weekend’s celebration with a Muslim service on Friday at the Central Mosque in Accra.
An all-inclusive float through the principal streets of Accra then follows which end at Heart’s home grounds at the Accra Sports Stadium where a cake-cutting ceremony will take place in the evening.
Saturday evening will see the honouring of over 50 individuals and co-operate institutions including Ghana’s President John Atta-Mills for their various contributions towards the sustenance and achievements of the great club at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra.
A Christian church service will then be held on Sunday morning after which the centenary international friendly with Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers will be played later in the evening.
Hearts of Oak during its centenary have seen numerous high-points including the famous miracle of El-Wak, their six consecutive league triumphs, a dramatic victory over Esperance to win the Caf Champions league, winning the Caf Super Cup and beating their bitterest rivals Asante Kotoko in their own backyard to win the inaugural Caf Confederations Cup.
The club has also seen some very low points in recent times; they struggled to avoid relegation, have seen their financial coffers dried up and the shrinking of their support base due to the team’s poor showing.
However the current administration led by Fred Crentsil have promised to restore Hearts glorious days which has now culminated into their impressive start to the season which sees them lie second to Asante Kotoko in the Ghana league – trailing by two-points.
Both sides meet in the top of the table clash when the league resumes on November 20 at the Accra Sports Stadium with the winners not only running away with the bragging rights, but will also have the pleasure of gaining total control of the league’s summit.