Asantehene hails Hearts

ASANTEHENE Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has commended Accra Hearts of Oak for being the first Ghanaian team to win the Africa Super Cup.

He said Hearts’ impressive record has brought honour not to the team alone but to Ghana.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II gave the commendation when 25 players and five officials of Hearts presented the Super Cup they won in Kumasi last Sunday to him at the Manhyia Palace yesterday.

He said Hearts’ shinning example should serve as a lesson to other clubs and encourage them to emulate the Phobian boys.

He said he was happy that the players listened to his advice during their earlier courtesy call on him last Wednesday to play the Sunday match with all their might and mind to bring honour to the country.

The Asantehene said he kept the African Club Champions Cup won by Hearts in his custody for three days and it was his prayer and wish that God saw the Phobians through the Super Cup match.

He said following the one-year ban imposed on Hearts by the CAF, the Phobians would have to honour their clubs championship matches this year in Kumasi and pledged to provide every support to them to ensure a successful defence of their title as continental masters.

Mr Harry Zakkour, Chief Executive of Hearts, who led the team, said they were overjoyed for winning the Super Cup and they found it gratifying to present the cup first to the Asantehene before leaving for Accra.

He said the management advised players to be tactically disciplined and play according to game plan.