A former player and coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mohammed Ahmed Polo, has advised the board of directors against selling any key player of the team to enhance the club’s chances in the CAF Champions League.

Polo made the call after Hearts had broken the over a decade’s jinx by winning the 2020/2021 Ghana Premier League title.

“I believe strongly that the Executive Board Chairman of Hearts, Togbe Afede XIV, would be willing to sponsor the newly-crowned GPL champions to participate in the continental competition, so it is important to ward off any attempt to infiltrate the camp of Hearts to pluck any of the key players,” Polo told the Graphic Sports in an exclusive interview.

On what should be done for the club to excel in Africa, Polo said, “they should maintain the key players, add a few quality ones and build their confidence to have the zeal to perform well in the continental competition.

Polo said any attempt to allow foreign or local clubs to pluck any of their key players at a time they are planning to participate in the Champions League would be disastrous.

“As a champion club, Hearts will be going to Africa. That explains why they should reinforce the team with quality players so they do not falter and be tagged as mere participants in the continental competition. With quality players, they can get to the money zone and prove their worth as former continental club champions,” he explained.

“Football is practical, hence the need to give the players more exposure to play as a team to keep them in good shape to excel in competitive matches,” he stated.

He also advised management to keep faith with Coach Samuel Boadu and motivate him to stay with the club for a long period of time.
“It is my belief that the present coach would also be maintained for him to have long-term plans in transforming the team into a formidable side at both the local and international levels,” Polo said.

He implored the players to eschew any form of complacency as they prepare to go to Africa and rather adopt positive lifestyles by sacrificing their leisure time to focus on their training.