Accra Hearts of Oak played at a numerical disadvantage against Real Tamale United (RTU) at the Aliu Mahama sports stadium in Tamale with so many improvisations at the centre back position, and coach Samuel Boadu has expressed satisfaction of the turn of result recorded against the Lions.
Ten-man Hearts of Oak held RTU to a goalless draw during their GPL week 17 match on Sunday. Coach Samuel Boadu’s side traveled to the Northern part of Ghana to the face the premier league returnees without the club’s dependable centre-back Mohammed Alhassan, who sustained injury in their 1-0 loss to city rivals Accra Great Olympics last Sunday.
Half-fit Robert Addo Sowah got injured in the game against RTU and failed to return, and coach Boadu had to improvise by shifting right-back Fatawu Mohammed to pair with substitute Sumaila Larry at the hearts of defence. Caleb Amankwah was shown the exit in the second half following a second yellow card he received, reducing the defenders of Hearts of Oak further down, but the tactical switches of the technical bench paid off, and coach Boadu is pleased with the outcome.
“It was a very nice game. You could see that Hearts of Oak, people were thinking that without central defenders we cannot play, but I believe in my boys. Already I’ve said that I’m building an all-round team; if we don’t have [say] Kwaku, Kwame is there, so this shows that the players out there can also bring out their best. It was a very nice game”, Boadu told StarTimes reporters after the 0-0 draw.
Accra Hearts of Oak failed to convert any of the chances that came their way which fell to the path of Isaac Mensah, and coach Boadu is worried about the lack of ability to convert their chances.
“Being a coach it’s a worry for me because if you get such a chance and you misuse it, when the opponent gets the same chance they will use it to punish me”, he lamented.
He however congratulated his players and the technical team for a great work done.
Hearts of Oak will host arch rivals Asante Kotoko on February 20th for a rescheduled league game before both sides draw the curtains on the first round of the 2021/2022 league campaign.
