Hearts of Oak is Not NDC -Tamakloe

Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and one time Chairman of the Accra Hearts of Oak FC has debunked the misconceptions in some quarters that the club is an NDC dominated club. "The club has never been an NDC sponsored team," he told The Accra Mail.

According to him, some occurrences in the club's administration have contributed to this notion being created in the minds of some members of the public.

Dr. Tamakloe, a medical doctor and sports enthusiast was speaking in an exclusive interview with The Accra Mail. He explained that during the Rawlings era, some Secretaries of State and Ministers became interested in the affairs of the team because of the team's successes at home and abroad. Some of these officials, he said, clandestinely pushed their way forward to the top echelons of the club's administration.

He therefore advised the public, particularly members of the NDC to desist from any act that is aimed at politicising the team. "The NDC used one of our battle cries during their last press conference at Nima and we urge them to desist from such behaviour," he warned.

He mentioned personalities like former Vice President Professor John Atta Mills, Mr. Ato Ahwoi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hearts and a former member of the erstwhile PNDC, Mr. Totobi Quakyi, former National Security Chief, the late Ato Austin, also a former member of the PNDC, Mr. Comodore Mensah, former PNDC Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Mr. Bright Akwetey, a former state prosecutor, and Mr. E.T Mensah, former Youth and Sports Minister, who were connected with the team some time past. "Their involvement and political affiliation has been the source of this wrong impression but I still doubt whether they even have valid membership cards."

The NDC, he reasoned, had always attempted to hijack the team and took advantage of the large support the team enjoys at the grassroots especially during the political campaign seasons in areas like Nima, Mamobi, Sukura, Zongo, La, Teshie-Nungua, James Town and Adabraka for their selfish political expediency.

"Traditionally, Hearts of Oak as a great football club, has always drawn a large support from these communities and beyond because it is one of the oldest in the country and in fact older than the NDC."

Dr. Tamakloe indicated that most of the team's talented players were discovered from some of these traditional bases such as Nima and Mamobi, which he described as a nursery ground of Hearts. He mentioned players like George Alhassan, Mohammed Polo, Bashiru Gambo, Mike Alhassan among others that were discovered from Nima and Mamobi, whose distinguished performance over the years have helped to propel Hearts to its present position.

Dr. Tamakloe also recounted some of his achievements when he was serving as the Chairman of the club in 1986. He revolutionalised the team and dismissed 22 regular players and brought in younger boys whose wonderful performance won the admiration of football fans. These boys were called names like Musical Youth, Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars and Nyaho Babies. Among them were the late Shamo Quaye, Ablade Kumah, now playing in Saudi Arabia and Joe Addo in the United States of America. The rest are Iddrisu Alhassan, playing in Switzerland, Eben Dugbatey and Adjetey Sowah all playing professional football abroad.

He paid glowing tribute to some of the club's patrons who have supported the Club in divers ways towards its march to attain excellence. They are Nana Wereko Ampem, Paramount Chief of Amanokrom, Mr. D.S. Quarcoopome, the late Mr. Anie, an industrialist, Mr. Harry Sawyer, former Minister of State and Member of the Council of State and Mr. CK. Dewornu, former IGP and Member of the Council of State.

On the Accra Sports Stadium disaster probe, Dr. Tamakloe said he had confidence in the members of the Okudzeto Committee that was appointed by the President.

He appealed to supporters of Hearts who were unfortunately the most affected by the tragedy to remain calm and cooperate with the government to resolve the matter amicably.

He also called on the management of the Club to instil discipline in the team to consolidate and maintain good performance as they prepare to take on the best teams in the World Clubs Cup Championship in Spain.