Accra, Aug 2, GNA 96 Coach Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, head coach of Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals has asked 91struggling' Accra Hearts of Oak to look beyond him in their search for a new trainer. Hearts zoomed into the market hunting for a coach earlier this week after firing their coach, Francis Oti Akenteng last Sunday and speculations are rife that Attuquayefio is being sought after to fill the void.
The former African Best Coach, however, insists that building a formidable career with Liberty Professionals remains his priority at the moment. Liberty will turn 10 this year and the coach told the GNA Sports that his focus centres on assisting the team to clinch their first silverware in the premiership.
Attuquayefio who remains Hearts longest serving coach said it would be technically unprofessional to switch to the camp of the Phobians, who are hoping to rely on him for 91salvation' in their Champions League campaign. Hearts has lost all two games so far played in the Champions League.
Even though he describes the Hearts interest as an honour, he believes his contractual commitment among other things makes it impossible for him to 91rescue' the former African Champions who fired Oti- Akenteng for non-performance. The coach mentioned his stint with the national U-23 team as another reason why he cannot accept the job with Hearts which he often describes as unique.
The services of the renowned coach often come in handy whenever the Phobians are in a crisis. The coach led Hearts to two successful continental titles in five years making the Phobians the only Ghanaian side to have lifted the Champions League (2000) and Confederations Cup (2005). The former Benin coach who remains the number one choice of the Phobians was recently tasked to assist Oti-Akenteng during the preliminary stages of the Champions League where the Phobians registered a massive upset by dumping Tunisian giants, Etoile Du Sahel to qualify to the group stage of the competition.
