Hearts of Oak paid each 2000 Champions League winner $100,000 - Harry Zakour

Former Hearts of Oak Chief Executive Officer Harry Zakour has rejected claims that the club’s players were not properly rewarded after winning the 2000 CAF Champions League.

Zakour says Hearts received $3 million following their historic triumph and ensured that the players who contributed to the success received a significant share of the money.

According to the former Hearts executive, each of the 18 players received $100,000, a figure he says was substantial at the time.

"It’s not true [that the players were not compensated for winning the trophy]. You can even invite that to our Ato Ahwoi. We gave them $100,000 each," Zakour said in an interview on Sporty FM.

Zakour explained that the club could not participate in the FIFA Club World Championship despite qualifying as African champions, but the financial reward from their continental success remained significant.

“We couldn’t go to the Club World Cup, but we got $3 million. Myself, Ato and Nii Ayi Bonte shared the money, and we gave each player $100,000."

The former Hearts chief said the payment was made to all 18 players who formed part of the successful squad, insisting there was no discrimination in the distribution.

Zakour also pointed out the value of the payment at the time, revealing that some of the players used their money to make major investments.

"You know that time, what is $100,000? It was a lot of money those days. Some of them bought properties."

The revelation comes amid claims that members of the historic Hearts squad were not adequately compensated for winning the Champions League.

Hearts defeated Tunisian giants Esperance in the final in 2000 to secure their first CAF Champions League title and become the first Ghanaian club to win the competition under its modern format.

The Phobians followed that success by defeating Zamalek to win the CAF Super Cup in 2001, completing a remarkable continental double.

Hearts later added another major African trophy to their collection when they won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2005.