Hearts of Oak coach Martin Koopman publicly expressed his frustration and disappointment after his team's less-than-ideal start to the 2023-24 Ghana Premier League season, which led to a heated outburst directed at one of his players, Congolese striker Kashala Ramos.
Following a home match in which Hearts of Oak failed to secure a victory, the Dutch coach was visibly upset and decided to substitute Kashala Ramos. Koopman's anger reached a boiling point as he criticized the player's performance, labeling him as "not a good striker."
In a candid interview with StarTimes, Koopman voiced his concerns about the team's striker situation. He lamented the absence of Issah Kuka, who had moved abroad, and expressed doubts about Kashala's performance in the match. Koopman went on to highlight the qualities of Hamza Issah, a young and determined player he saw as a viable option.
“We have no striker. I tell you again, we’ve got no striker. Issah [Kuka] has gone abroad, so we have no striker. I tell them every time, he told StarTimes
“Do you think Kashala was good when playing? No, he was not good. Hamza Issah is young; he is a fighter, and that was the next option."
Ironically, it was Ramos Kashala who had scored Hearts of Oak's only Premier League goal of the season, securing a 1-0 victory against Nsoatreman FC in Accra.
Koopman's public criticism of his player could potentially create tension within the team as the Ghanaian giants aim to clinch the Premier League title after a three-year drought. The coach's outburst has garnered significant criticism and could have repercussions for the team.
Currently, Hearts of Oak sits just above the relegation zone with four points from four matches, having scored only one goal while suffering two losses and a draw in the process.
