Accra Hearts of Oak are in the market for a centre-back after the departure of Mohammed Alhassan. Social media is already rife with reports, rumours, suggestions of who could fill the boots of ‘Mo’.
Kickgh.com has filtered through all the noise to bring you the five names everybody’s talking about. Here are the Phobians options as they stand and, what would each mean to the Continental Club Masters.
Zakaria Fuseini
The Berekum Chelsea skipper is a leader, the kind of player others look up to and improve upon their game to impress. With him in the side, the technical team of his club knows the other teammates will perform because he wouldn’t have it otherwise.
His reading of the game is so good that he can anticipate situations before they escalate but, if he does get into danger, he can always rely on his long stride to get him out of trouble. Fuseini is a mature performer and leadership comes naturally to him.
Solomon Adomako
The Accra Great Olympics defender is another good player the Phobians could target and sign in the absence of Mohammed Alhassan.
Having a strong stature, a good vision, a self-confident personality, Adomako is a prototypical rock at the back whose general quality on the ball play is a striking feature when watching him play with the ability to comfortably play out from the back and complete long-range passes.
And while he is astute on the ball, he remains more than capable off it in defensive situations.
David Oppong Afrane
David Oppong Afrane is incredibly gifted in possession and a key component in starting attacks from defence. He’s also shown the capability to play at full-back due to his speed, and also in defensive midfield given his ability on the ball.
He excels well with the ball at his feet and also confident enough to play passes between the lines and is always looking to get the ball quickly. His composure is terrific- a perfect mix of Thiago Siva and Lisandro Martinez.
Being naturally two-footed is another great quality, which is rather rare among stoppers. He may not have the hype and experience but his talent has never been in doubt.
Michael Enu
Enu is reasonably tall, imposing, a very good ball-winner and also good with the ball at his feet, which is crucial for Slavko Matic. The Bibiani Goldstars centre-back is still improving and if the Phobians have it their way, he could continue to build on his career at the club.
Enu may not come with the attacking threat that Alhassan poses, but his commanding of the backline and aerial presence is something which hasn’t gone a miss.
He executes his defensive and other assigned duties efficiently and effectively. His playing style has won the most plaudits. He could be Ghana’s next Samuel Osei Kuffour given the way he approaches his defending: smooth, subtle and extremely stylish.
Kwadwo Addae
Addae fits the profile of a modern centre-back. He has good speed for his imposing physical stature and his awareness and anticipation again makes him similar to other targets on this list.
What is perhaps most striking is his ability as a ball carrier, which means that he can move into midfield in possession and help start attacks for his own team, as well as repel them from the opponents.
His style would complement Robert Addo Sowah’s well and he has the pace that both Konadu Yiadom and Sowah lack. That gives Hearts some extra insurance at the back which hasn’t been there.
Godwin Abusah
Style-wise, Abusah is a more conservative type of defender. He is a reader of the game and will try to force attackers into mistakes through his positioning before he has to commit to a tackle.
Abusah never shies away from a tackle and possesses a solid level of concentration, which is something which the current Hearts centre-backs severely lack.
Abusah is capable of playing anywhere across the back line and could provide cover for Samuel Inkoom and Dennis Korsah, which will prove invaluable for Matic.
