GBESE Mantse and Adonten of the Ga State, Nii (Dr) Ayi-Bonte II, says running a football club in Ghana comes with major challenges, but believes Accra Hearts of Oak can rise above those challenges to reclaim the Ghana Premier League title this season.
The traditional leader, who once chaired Hearts of Oak, was part of the club’s historic treble in the 1999/2000 season when the Phobians won the Ghana Premier League, FA Cup and CAF Champions League.
Reflecting on the demands of football administration, he noted: “To run football in this country is not so easy. Always I’ve been told that Togbe Afede is doing very well. We also need to give him the support to achieve the aim.”
He further urged the Rainbow family to push harder this season to overcome the challenge posed by their rivals.
“For now, I’ll say we need to win the league this year. Definitely. We have come back, we’ll give our quota and support our brother,” he added.
Hearts of Oak, who finished fourth last season, are hoping to bounce back strongly under new leadership as they chase their first league crown since 2021.
A former Hearts of Oak defender, Dan Quaye, has corroborated the traditional ruler’s position, tipping the Phobians to succeed in the upcoming 2025/26 Ghana Premier League campaign, reports Ghanasoccernet.com.
The Phobians enjoyed a fairly good campaign during the 2024/25 Ghanaian football season. Despite missing out on a trophy, the team’s top-four finish in the GPL was an improvement from the previous campaign, where the team almost suffered relegation.
Speaking after Hearts defeated Heart of Lions 2-0 on Sunday to win the 2025 Homowo Cup, Dan Quaye expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and their top four finish last season.
“I see a lot of positives in the team going into the new season. I’m confident Hearts of Oak will finish among the top four in the league next season,” he added.
The 2025/26 Ghana Premier League will kick off on the weekend of September 12 with the club expected to take on debutant, Hohoe United, in their Premier League opener.