Nsiah wants to preempt decision of Appeals Committee -Hearts

Accra, Dec 07, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club has described a statement made by Mr Kofi Nsiah, General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) to the effect that the Club failed to confirm their participation in time for next year's Confederation of African Football (CAF) Interclub Competition as a ploy to pre-empt the decision of the Review Committee in their case against Tema Youth. Mr Kurt Okraku, newly appointed Communications and Marketing Director of the Club in reaction to the GFA scribe's comments, said it is never true that the Club failed to meet the deadline of December 6, given by the Association.

He described Mr Nsaih's statement that Hearts have forfeited their slot in the next CAF Champions League and will thence be entered into the CAF Confederations Cup as a ploy to mislead the public and should be treated with the contempt it deserves.

The Communications Director said Hearts will exploit all avenues available to them including resorting to the law courts if the football association goes ahead to delete the Club's name from the list of Clubs' to represent the country in next year's inter continental club competitions.

On Wednesday, Mr Kofi Nsaih answering questions on Peace FM, an Accra radio station said as at the time that the deadline of December 6 elapsed, Hearts had not submitted their name, hence the FA will submit the names of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Obuasi Ashgold to represent the country in the CAF Champions League.

Hearts who are currently third on the 13 week Premier League table, have a game in hand against Tema Youth after the Phobian's succeeded in overturning the decision of the Disciplinary Committee which declared them losers after Hearts failed to turn up for their match at the Tema Sports Stadium, citing a court injunction.

In countering Mr Nsiah's statement, Mr Okraku said that the Club first received a letter dated November 29 that was faxed to them a day later, asking them to confirm their participation in next year's CAF interclub competition by December 6, irrespective of the fact that there were some outstanding issues in the league yet to be settled. He said Hearts faxed their response to the FA that they will participate but it is still subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Club.

=93On December 5, we again faxed them a copy of a confirmation of our participation when the Board gave us (Management) the go ahead to participate. We did no stop there but sent a hard copy of our statement to the FA Secretariat on December 6 which was signed and acknowledged by Mr Emmanuel Gyimah before the deadline elapsed.=94 =93We are therefore at a loss as to why Mr Nsiah went on air to say that Hearts failed to confirm their participation before the given time and that the Club would not be allowed to participate in the CAF Champions League=94.

Mr Okraku said for now Hearts are taking the comments of Mr Nsaih as an isolated statement and are waiting the official view of the GFA as to which teams represents the country in the CAF continental matches next season for them to come out with their next line of action.