Hearts to develop training ground

Accra Hearts Oak have concluded plans to develop their training ground and bring it up to a standard befitting the club. Mr Tommy Okine, Chief Executive of the club told the GNA on Tuesday that he had commenced discussions with the management of Parks and Gardens to grass the field during the off-season so that the players would be more comfortable at training and raise their level of commitment and standard of play.

The Chief Executive said his administration would concentrate, not only on the technical and tactical development of the club, but also on the provision of infrastructure, which would make the club a truly professional one. Consequently, he said they are working around the clock to ensure that work continues on the Hearts Stadium Complex under construction at Pobiman, a suburb of Accra despite the huge financial stress.

Mr Okine said management has started strategising to ensure that the Phobians distinguish themselves in the African Champions League next year, as the domestic title cannot elude them as things stand now.

The Chief Executive said with the quality of players on the payroll of Hearts the defending champions would only need two or three players to beef up the team and be in contention for their second African Champions League triumph. He said while his administration is determined to win the double by adding the Football Association (FA) Knockout Cup to the league title, they would not scupper the chance of any player to travel abroad if he had a genuine contract.

Mr Okine said it is the policy of his leadership to loan redundant players to other clubs so that they would play regularly while the technical team keeps a close watch on them to monitor their progress.

To the vociferous supporters of the club, the Chief Executive said he is very satisfied with their support and patronage and called on them not to relent. "They should not think that we have almost won the league so they would not come to the stadium. This is the time for the show that they love the club. The players still need their support and the club needs their patronage, he added.