Hearts can only improve during my term - Jones

Accra, Aug 25, GNA - Coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, who recently returned to Accra Hearts of Oak after two years time-off following a dispute with the club's management has stated that his "second coming" will bring much improvement to the team.

Speaking in an interview with the GNA Sports in Accra the coach stated however, that his comeback is not to reinvent the wheel but to build on former German coach, Ernst Middendorp's performance.

Coach Attuquayefio who rejoined Hearts after resigning as Head Coach of the Benin national soccer team, was very much appreciative of the work of the German and said he intends to improve on the identified weaknesses within the team. He said the German coach left a good legacy in his short stint with the 2000 Africa Champions and admits, "It would not be an easy task filling his shoes considering the fact that we both come from different cultural backgrounds and do things differently".

Attuquayefio said one of the problematic areas has to be with goal scoring, "many people who I have talked to are not happy with the fact that the team plays so well, create many scoring chance and yet waste all". He said his comeback is to bring the "big family atmosphere" that existed during his stay adding, it could be a way of motivating players to fight for each other when the going gets tough.

The 2000 African Coach of the Year said, it would not be prudent for anybody to expect too much from the present squad or compare it to the team that won the 2000 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League crown; because it took that squad years to reach that stage. He said the present squad is a blend of experience and up-and-coming players who need time to blend together to become a winsome team.

"It will therefore be na=EFve on my part to push them too hard as that can break the teambuilding exercise that just started. "For now, my hands are a bit tired, we have completed the registration of players for the Confederations Cup and adding fresh blood would be dangerous for they may not be used for such important matches". Asked what motivated him to come back haven won everything that there is to be won at club and continental level, he said: "history is still being written and I would never stop writing my name in gold any time the opportunity beckons.