A close source has told ghanasportspage.com the reason why Linda Don Mtange and Appiah Clinton were not in the set up for the MTN FA Cup round of 32 clash against Dreams FC on Sunday.
The Still Believe boys shuttered the hopes of defending Champions Accra Hearts of Oak from clinching the FA Cup for the third time in a role.
Zakaria Yakubu gifted Dreams FC’s Agyenim Boateng an early goal to give the Still Believe boys the nod ahead of the rainbow lads.
Dreams held onto the steer firmly till the dying minutes when Hearts Of Oak got a late penalty but was eventually missed to hand them their qualification to round 16 of the 2022/2023 MTN FA Cup Competition.
Slavko Matic faced Dreams FC without his usual starters like Isaac Mensah, Gideon Asante and Caleb Amankwaa who are currently on the injury list and will be out of the team for some time.
According to a close source, the coach decided to rest Clinton Appiah and Mtange due to some reasons.
However, Mtange has confirmed in an interview with Kumasi-based Akoma FM that he is not having any issue with the club but he missed the game due to illness.
“I didn’t play our game with Dreams because I was not feeling well but the news going round that Hearts owe me some unpaid signing-on fees and salaries and that is why I did not play on Sunday are all false.
“There is no problem between myself, the playing body, management, and the coach.
“Hearts are taking good care of me, they provide me with everything I need and I’m enjoying my stay in Ghana with the club.
“I was even surprised by the publication, there is no truth in that report, it is fake. The truth is that there is no problem.
I only missed the game because I was sick and that is all,” the Congolese midfielder stated.
Hearts Of Oak will now have to fight for the Ghana Premier League after their elimination from the MTN FA Cup. They are currently fourth on the league log with 21 points.
