Happy Birthday Hearts of Oak

TODAY November 11 2002, marks the 91st Anniversary of the founding of our great club, Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited, and on behalf of my colleagues of the Council of Patrons, I wish to extend warm congratulations of the occasion to all members of the Phobian family.

It is my fervent prayer and hope that the good Lord will grant us peace and success in the coming years as we approach the centenary of the founding of our club.

As it is customary, on occasions like this, we wish to remember the sacrifice of our founding fathers, office holders, players and all other Phobians who have been summoned to the world beyond. The greatest tribute we can pay to the memory of the departed is for us to pledge to carry the torch which destiny has thrust into our hands.

We are celebrating our Birthday against the background of a very excellent achievement by the club in the just ended Premier League. We won the championship for a record 6th consecutive time with one of the highest points ever recorded in the history of Ghana Soccer. We also won the Ghalca top 4 and the King Tackie Tawiah centenary competitions.

I am happy to observe that on the Goalking title race, Charles Taylor or Bernard Bong Bortey stand the best chance of carrying the day thereby making it the 5th consecutive time that Hearts players have won the title.

I wish to extend a hand of commendation to the Board of Directors, Management , players and our army of supporters for making us proud by their good work. I also wish to say a big thank you to all individuals and corporate bodies that assisted us in diverse ways to help us achieve our goal.

As we prepare to participate in the 2003 CAF Champions league, by virtue of our winning the league, I wish to appeal for total commitment and dedication to enable us to recapture the trophy. The challenge on the continental scene will be strong and enormous, but I am convinced that with sacrifice and determination we shall overcome.

I am informed that quietly and steady some work is taking place at the Phobian site. While commending the Phobian Sports Complex Committee for the good work done so far, I wish to urge them to work harder so that in a year?s time the team can train at Phobian.

I am saddened to observe that we have not been able to hold our Annual General meeting/congress due to unforeseen circumstances. I am confident that the obstacle that have prevented us from meeting will be surmounted in the not too distant future so that we can lay the foundation to transform our club into a modern entity that can be compared to clubs in Europe.

Finally I wish to appeal for discipline and respect in our dealings with each other within the Phobia Family and others within the National football family.

Let us resolve to make Hearts better than we met it by our thoughts, actions and to deeds. Long live the Phobia family. Never say die!