Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has declared he is ready to rewrite history and return Accra Hearts of Oak to their glory days, combining pride in the job with an unflinching hunger for silverware.

Speaking exclusively to the Graphic Sports, the 59-year-old tactician said taking over from Ivorian Aboubacar Ouattara at the end of June was an honour – and a challenge he is eager to embrace after the club’s barren 2024/25 campaign.

“Hearts of Oak is a great club with a great tradition, recognised across Africa and beyond. It is a privilege to serve one of the greatest clubs globally,” Dramani said.

“My dream is to bring direction, consistency, sustainability and success,  and to be remembered for great things here.”

Winner’s CV

Dramani arrives with a résumé few in Ghanaian football can match. He twice led Asante Kotoko to the Premier League title, steered the Black Queens, served as Black Stars assistant coach and worked with Ghana’s U-17 women’s side.

His career has also taken him to Denmark’s FC Nordsjaelland and the Right to Dream Academy, cementing his reputation as both a title-winning manager and a top-class developer of talent.

The brief at Hearts could not be clearer: win the league and take the 2000 African champions back to the continental stage, or face the disappointment of one of Ghana’s most passionate fan bases.

Baptism of fire

Dramani’s tenure began in the heat of rivalry – the 2025 President’s Cup against his former club Kotoko on July 6.

Hearts took a first-half lead but lost 2-1 after missing a late penalty, a defeat he insists brought important lessons.

“We lost, but we learnt credibility in the failure,” he said. “No coach likes losing and it may not be the last time we face setbacks. But we will challenge for trophies.”

Since being approached on June 20 – days before his official unveiling – he has wasted no time shaping the team’s identity.

A clear style of play, he says, is already in place, underpinned by “ownership, belonging, responsibility and accountability.”

Pre-season charge

The build-up to the new Ghana Premier League season, which kicks off on 13 September 13, will see Hearts face Kpando Heart of Lions in the Gbese Mantse Homowo Cup on Sunday (August 17) before competing in the pre-season GHALCA Top 4 from August 20–24.

The gaffer says much is happening behind the scenes – from assembling a comprehensive technical staff to reinforcing the squad and aligning the first team with the youth set-up.

“Hearts will be competitive, challenge for trophies and qualify for major competitions. We just need the fans to fill the stands, keep the faith and trust the process. We will win a lot together.”