Joe Addo, a former Hearts of Oak defender, has revealed a touching story about the club's support during his high school years.
Addo shared that Hearts of Oak covered all his educational expenses while he was a part of the team. He joined Hearts of Oak as a young player after transitioning from Annor Warriors while attending Tema Secondary School from 1989 to 1990.
During his time with the club, Addo demonstrated remarkable dedication to his studies alongside his football pursuits.
He recalled how, while his teammates were engaged in training camps, he focused on his academic studies, striving to balance his passion for football with his education.
"While I was in secondary school, I was actively playing for Hearts of Oak. Hearts of Oak paid my school fees at Tema Secondary School through the support of former Chairman Paul Kunkey.
"I joined Hearts as a youngster when they recruited me from Annor Warriors. When we went for training camps, my teammates would do their own thing while I concentrated on studying my schoolwork. This caught the attention of one of my teammates who asked why I was always studying while others were busy with football. I told him I had exams to write," he revealed in an interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV.
"He was surprised by my actions, and he brought the issue to the attention of Paul Kunkey. One day, I was dismissed from school. When I joined the team for a training camp, I stopped reading my books. Kunkey asked me why I had stopped, and I explained everything to him. The following day, we visited Tema Secondary School. Fortunately for me, the school's principal was a staunch fan of Hearts of Oak. At that time, I was in my second year. So, Kunkey said from that day until I completed my education, Hearts of Oak would take care of all my expenses," he added.
