Folded arms. Scowl across the face. Thousand-yard stare.
This has become an all-too regular sight for Hearts of Oak fans looking to their coach, as the Phobians endure an ever increasingly poor slump.
Aboubakar Ouattara struck a forlorn figure in his technical area as his listless Accra Hearts of Oak side lost 2-0 with to Heart of Lions on Sunday afternoon, and the defeat in Kpando has left many fans questioning whether he is still the right man for the job.
The Ivorian trainer who took over after Martinus Koopman was relieved off his coaching duties earlier this year was visually apoplectic at some of his players’ shoddy display.
Progress at the beginning of his tenure was faster than anyone could have expected–but a paltry total of just seven wins from 19 has seen an element of realism set in among the Hearts fanbase.
The former Kotoko and King Faisal boss is a wildly popular character already at the club – his infectious smile and weirdly wonderful personality will do that – but recent results have not been good.
With a congested sequence of games coming up, this is where Ouattara needs to show why he is the ideal candidate to lead Hearts forward. Lately, the Phobians have had some serious problems in recreating the magic formula and writing that much-anticipated story that surrounded the club four seasons ago under Samuel Boadu. Things have gone south for the Continental Club Masters.
Struggling for goals and clean sheets, they are currently placed 18th in the league table, having endured two defeats in the two-week-old season. And Sunday’s defeat to Heart of Lions has brought the axe ever-closer to falling on the coach.
The distrust and suspicion around the club and their coach has continued to grow after the defeat, and the number of doubters who believe their leader has lost his way is multiplying.
The zip and intensity is draining away, with their confidence following. This is not the Accra Hearts of Oak that captivated neutrals during Boadu's tenure. There are shades of the unimaginative outfit assembled by Koopman and Abdul Rahim Bashiru Tijani.
Watching Hearts on Sunday, there was a distinct lack of plan going forward and absolute chaos at the back. Individual mistakes haunted the Phobians with dependable Kevin Osei Assibey performing as successfully as a cardboard cutout of himself.
It’s not only down to the individuals, however. Watch some highlights of the game, and count the number of times the hosts escaped behind their opponent’s defence with a simple ball over the top. It’s frightening, and for that to be allowed to happen without intervention, it should count as dereliction of duty from Ouattara.
It is time for the personalities occupying the upper echelon of the club’s administrative offices to strategically get the club back to winning ways and bring smiles back to the faces of their followers if they still harbour thoughts of winning a domestic silverware.
Hope is not lost but surely diminishing.
