Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has called on fans to remain patient and trust in the long-term project he is building at the club after securing their first victory of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season.
The Phobians triumphed 2-0 over Bechem United on Sunday, lifting some of the pressure on Ouattara following back-to-back defeats.
Hearts had started the season poorly with losses against Basake Holy Stars and Heart of Lions, leading to calls from some sections of the fanbase for Ouattara’s dismissal. However, after the victory, the Ivorian tactician addressed the supporters, emphasizing the broader goals for the club.
"Hearts of Oak does not belong to me," Ouattara said. "Hearts of Oak has a big project. The goal is to build a strong team to conquer, not just to win for the sake of it."
Ouattara also acknowledged the mistakes he made in their previous game against Lions, where tactical changes did not go as planned. However, he praised his players for responding positively against Bechem United.
"I made changes against Lions, and it did not work," he admitted. "Today, I kept faith in the team, and they responded well. It shows that we are human, but also that I am learning from these experiences and not repeating mistakes."
Hearts of Oak will now turn their attention to their next match, an away fixture against Nations FC.
