Togbe Afede XIV, the Executive Board Chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak, has thrown support behind some “under-fire” members of the board.
There has been a huge backlash among the supporters of Hearts and some board members, especially after the exit from this year’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup last Sunday.
There was a scuffle between Mr. Elvis Hermann Hesse, the Chairman of the National Chapters Committee (NCC), and Board Member Mr. Vicent Sowah Odotei, which led to the arrest of the supporters’ leader.
But Togbe Afede XIV, who is the majority shareholder of the Phobian club, at a press conference lauded the efforts of the board members for propelling the club to greater heights in the last few years.
“Sometimes I am amazed by the level of commitment from these people (board members) and, trust me, the successes of the 2021-22 season on the pitch, what we are doing at Pobiman, the commercial centre, and the new head office building would never have been possible without the dedication of the board members.
He added that he was investing money in the club because he was dealing with the right people to steer the affairs of the club and propel them to greatness.
“If I don’t trust them, they won’t be part of what we are doing. If they were not hardworking, we wouldn’t have achieved anything,” Togbe Afede stated.
Hearts have had a tough start to the season, which led to the sacking of coach Samuel Boadu, with Serbian coach Matic Slavko expected to take charge of the team in the coming days.
Dr. Nyaho Nhayo-Tamakloe, a Board Member of Accra Hearts of Oak, says they are working hard to ensure the club achieves preeminence in African football once again.
His comments come after an unhealthy clash between supporters of the club and some board members at last Sunday’s match with Real Bamako, which saw Hearts eliminated from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup.
Dr. Nhayo-Tamakloe acknowledged supporters’ contributions to the club’s success but advised them to follow the proper channels to air their grievances.
“The board is not equally happy with the performance of the club despite the heavy investment in facilities and the recruitment of some of the best talents to the club. We all owe it a responsibility to find some solutions to the team’s performance.
“It is not as though management and the board are unconcerned by happenings in the club, but we are working hard to ensure that the club remains or reclaims its lost glory,” he stated.