Kenichi denies preventing Togbe Afede from meeting players

Hearts of Oak coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi has denied reports claiming he prevented the club's highest shareholder and board chairman Togbe Afede from holding talks with the players before the Super Clash against Asante Kotoko on matchday ten.

Reports were rife in the local media that Togbe and other high ranking members of the club were not happy with the coach's conduct but the Japanese insists the rumours are untrue.

Hearts were defeated 1-0 thanks to a first-half howler from Burkinabe goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye, their fourth loss at the Accra Sports Stadium in six seasons.

"It is not true that I prevented Togbe Afede from meeting the players and will not do that on any day," Kenichi told Goal.

"Togbe came to talk to the players at the hotel, hours before the game as he always does for all the home matches.

"He had a successful interaction with them and everything after that went on normal as usual. I have a very good relationship with him but I'm surprised such falsehoods are being spread," he added.

Kenichi also denied storming out of a technical meeting and destroying properties in anger after their 3-1 home defeat to Wa All Stars.

"I never did that. The last meeting I had with the club's top hierarchy was on April 4. And that meeting lasted more than three hours which I sat down until Togbe said I can now leave and I obliged," he said.

Hearts recovered from their Kotoko debacle with a 1-0 win over Berekum Chelsea on Sunday and will host Sekondi Hasaacas next weekend.