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| Pressure Mounts On Tetteh As Rwanda Loose Against Benin |
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| Rwanda coach Sellas Tetteh has come under intense pressure after seeing his team slump to a disappointing 0-3 loss at home to Benin. |
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| Essien Wants More Despite chelsea's Impressive Season Start |
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| Chelsea have started the new campaign in the way they finished the last, with a 100 per cent record. |
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| French born Ghanaian midfielder Kevin Osei has chosen to play for the national Under 20 side |
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| GFA Denies Honouring SFO Invitation |
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| The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has today declined to honour an invitation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to answer questions in relation to the Premier League |
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| Essien impresses With Two Goals Since Horrific Injury |
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| Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has hailed Ghana midfielder Michael Essien for his stunning display |
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Hearts @ 99: Exclusive Interview With The Administrative Boss |
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On the occasion of the 99th anniversary of the oldest club in Ghana, Accra Hearts of Oak, GFM Sports caught up with administrative manager of the club Mr. Ashford Tetteh-Oku.
For the purposes of convenience, we implore the abbreviations of : GFM Sports as just 'GFM' and Mr. Ashford Tetteh-Oku as 'ASH'.
GFM: Thank You very much for Speaking to us.
ASH: Thank You Sir
GFM: What is your general refelction of the 99-years of existence of this club?
ASH: It has been 99 solid years of a very great life. It has not been so easy in achieving this milestone.
You would agree with me that before and after 1911 there have been clubs, most of them now are defunct but by the grace of God, Hearts of Oak is very much alive and as such calls for some sort of commemoration.
This is an institution that has brought joy to millions of its faithfuls over the years. Its an institution that has contributed its widows-might to the general economic life of this country by providing employment opportunities for people in terms of players, technical men and administrative staff. Without Football and for that matter sports, we wouldn't even have institutions like the GFA, Sports Council where we have people working there on a daily basis.
You are looking at a club that has won so many honours for itself as well as the nation. We pride ourselves as being the first Ghanaian club to have won the CAF Champions League (2000) in its its present format, we pride ourselves as being the first and only Ghanaian club to have won the CAF Super Cup (2000), we pride ourselves as being the first and so far the only Ghanaian club to have won the CAF Confederation Cup.
Aside that, the immense contribution we have made in terms of player contribution to the national team eg. In 1963, the captain leading the Black Stars to win the Nations Cup, Aggrey Fynn was a product of this club, Ghana retained the trophy in 1965 and the captain Charles Addo-Odamitey was from Hearts and in the country's first participation at the world cup in 2006 was skippered by Stephen Appiah from Hearts of Oak, not to talk of the league titles won, Knock-outs, SWAG and other ceremonial trophies won, i must say this is a very great institution we must be proud of.
GFM: In face of all these achievements chalked in the past, fans still have a feeling of discontent with regards to structures, facilities, quality players and finances, how do you intend dealing with these problems in recent times?
ASH: Ofcourse, in recent times, it has not been easy to run a club like this. The general economic situation has changed so many things. You have a situation where there are so many football clubs and academies springing up and they are all competing with you for all the nest players. In the past every player wants to play either for a Hearts or Kotoko but now there are diversities and so you cannot get all the best materials in your team.
Nowadays, transfer or recruitment bill is so high. There is also the situation of the low patronage of the league to even rake in the necessary revenue. Revenue from the fan-base is drastically eroded and so when you have a situation when the club keeps moving on individual pockets. With these situations prevailing, its not too easy to get all these things the fans a craving for done. But modestly we are looking at getting some infrastructure in place for example work is still ongoing on our Phobiman land into a modern training facility in time for the centenary.
However all said and done, it is a collective responsibility, they are supposed to contribute through their chapters their subscriptions and dues, we are also near the floatation of shares and hope this will bring in the needed funds to purchase the top players and acquire the facilities.
GFM: What kind of impact is the club hoping to get from the floatation of its shares?
ASH: The aim behind the floatation is to bring in enough revenue first and foremost to retire existing debts, secondly to invest in infrastructure, thirdly in human resources like quality players and probably with some left to do some investment with it. When this is done, i believe we will set the club on the path to a more glorious future.
GFM: Egyptian side Al Ahly some few years back invited Barcelona during their centenary celebrations, is Hearts thinking the same direction for its 100-year anniversary?
ASH: Fortunately for us, there is a sub committee of the board working on the centenary celebrations and would soon be rolling out an elaborate program. Whether it will be possible of bringing in a Real Madrid or Manchester United will be sorted out but ofcourse there are a number of factors like timing because of the heavy schedule of the teams in their respective leagues so we will do things within the limitations of our finances and so on but believe you me it will be a grand event. No other club in Ghana has attained such a feat and therefore must be grand.
GFM: Can you guarantee that by the centenary year, the club would have fund its footing to take on Africa and the rest of the world?
ASH: It goes hand-in-hand if we want to rough shoulders with the world elites. Rhetorically, I'd like to ask, what are the fans also doing to help the club in this regard?.
GFM: What kind of do the administration want from the fans?
ASH: Support comes in different ways and the first thing is to organise themselves. When the fans a well organised and focused, they can offer alternative solutions to management and other innovations in pushing the club forward. Going to pay gate proceeds and dues though good, is not enough. By the time stadium owners, security, the GFA, PLB and GHALCA take their percentage the monies left is meager. So a supporter might pride himself as having gone to the stadium to pay but in the end would realise its just not enough.
The subscriptions that comes from the chapter level is also given back to foot the bills their activities but at the end if we sit down as a unit, there are so many things we can do to push this club forward. The issue of replica jerseys is also there, we cant force them in purchasing the paraphernalia's.
GFM: When all things come together, resources are found and the fans organised, what will the future of the club be like?
ASH: Even in the past with all those limitations, wearing only shorts, we got there. Therefore when the resources come, we will wear trousers and will get to wherever they want us to be.
GFM: Thank You very much for your time
ASH: Thank You.
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