Accra, Ghana – Hearts of Oak’s head coach, Martin Koopman, did not mince words after his team’s frustrating 0-0 draw against Dreams FC in the Ghanaian top-flight on Sunday. The Dutchman expressed his frustration and aimed a pointed criticism at his players, suggesting that the Ghanaian giants lacked a proper striker.
The Phobians, a historically successful team in Ghanaian football, failed to find the back of the net in their clash against CAF Confederation Cup campaigners Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium. This result only increased the pressure on Koopman and his squad.
Hearts of Oak currently find themselves just above the relegation zone, having accumulated only four points from their first four games of the 2023-2024 Ghana Premier League season. Their campaign has been far from ideal, with one win, one draw, and two losses marking their early struggles.
The frustration was palpable as Koopman bemoaned his team’s performance, publicly questioning the striking options at his disposal, despite having Congolese forward Ramos Kashala in the squad.
“We have no striker. I tell you again, we’ve got no striker. Issah [Kuka] has gone abroad, so we have no striker,” Koopman lamented in a post-match interview with StarTimes. He also expressed dissatisfaction with Kashala’s performance, suggesting that young Hamza Issah might be a better alternative.
Ironically, it was Ramos Kashala who scored Hearts of Oak’s only goal in the Premier League this season, securing a 1-0 victory over Nsoatreman FC in Accra. This only added to the puzzling nature of Koopman’s comments.
Koopman’s outburst has not gone unnoticed by fans and pundits alike, with many criticizing his public criticism of the team. While coaches often express frustration, the timing and tone of his remarks have raised eyebrows and could potentially have consequences within the club.
-The Post Ghana
