Former Hearts of Oak captain, Yaw Amankwah Mireku, has expressed doubts about midfielder Salifu Ibrahim’s dedication to the club this season.
Mireku suggests that Ibrahim, once a key figure in the team's success, appears to have lost his passion for the game while wearing the Rainbow colors.
Since his arrival at Hearts of Oak in February 2021, the 23-year-old has played a pivotal role in the club's triumph in the Ghana Premier League that season. However, this campaign has seen a decline in his performance, with only two goals and nine assists in 28 appearances, raising concerns about his commitment.
Mireku voiced his concerns during an interview with Akoma FM, highlighting the danger of players prioritizing monetary gains and indulgent lifestyles over their professional responsibilities. He emphasized that Ibrahim's apparent decline in passion is indicative of a broader issue within the club, where players lose sight of their initial motivations.
“Players join Hearts of Oak and lose focus because they want to make money and live an unnecessary lifestyle. Salifu Ibrahim is a typical example, was this his performance when he first joined the club? He no longer plays with passion or zeal," he told Akoma FM.
"This is because he has lost sight of why he came to Hearts of Oak and is now enjoying. Now he's making money at Hearts of Oak," he added.
As Hearts of Oak faces critical fixtures against Berekum Chelsea and Aduana Stars in their bid for survival this season, Mireku warns that the players' lifestyle choices could jeopardize the club's success. He urges them to refocus their efforts and prioritize their performance on the field over materialistic pursuits.
"Instead of acknowledging the difficulty of playing for Hearts of Oak and putting forth extra effort, the players are just doing it anyhow. They (the players) manage to purchase some small cars, line up the girls, and that's it. They're just joking in the club," Mireku continued.
"They need to put in a lot of effort and put aside their opulent lifestyle."
With only six games remaining in the season, Hearts of Oak must rally together to overcome the challenges ahead, starting with their upcoming match against Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park in a Ghana Premier League matchweek 29 fixture.
