In a candid revelation, former Hearts of Oak manager Martin Koopman has stirred controversy by asserting that the iconic football club is no longer a 'big club' in Ghana.
Koopman, who led the Phobians for three months, expressed his views on the team's status in an interview, challenging the perception of Hearts of Oak as a powerhouse in Ghanaian football.
While acknowledging their current standing as a top side in the league, Koopman dismissed it as merely a paper achievement. He pointed out a critical imbalance in the team during his tenure, emphasizing the lack of experience, strikers, and wingers.
"They think they are the best club in Ghana. On paper, yes, but that’s not true. We had a young team and no experience…Actually, we missed balance in our team. We had a very good defense, a very good midfield but we missed strikers and wingers," he stated candidly.
Despite the challenges faced, Koopman claimed that conveying the truth about the team's shortcomings was met with dissatisfaction from the board and fans.
“Every time I said that everybody was not happy but it was the truth. And it’s not easy to tell the truth against the board and against the fans but that was the reality at the moment for Hearts of Oak."
During his brief stint, the Dutch gaffer managed only two wins in ten matches, contributing to the ongoing debate about Hearts of Oak's status and performance in Ghanaian football.
