The Phobians risk playing their remaining home games in the Caf Champions League outside Accra Sports Stadium due to the terrible nature of the pitch
Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined Ghana’s sole representative in Champions League, Hearts of Oak $5,000 due to the poor nature of the Accra Sports Stadium during their game against Guinean side CI Kamsar.
According to Caf, the standard of the pitch was below the expectations which made it difficult for both Hearts and Kamsar to exhibit good football in the preliminary round fixture.
With Hearts now preparing to host Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club on October 22 at the same venue, Caf has warned Hearts to improve the quality of the pitch or the game will be move out of Accra.
If Hearts are unable to meet the requirements of Caf, it is likely the game will be moved to the Cape Coast Sports Stadium since that was the alternative home ground the Phobians chose before the start of the competition.
Cape Coast has been hosting Ghana’s games in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers and it was the same venue where the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers were held.
In other related news, three Hearts of Oak players – Caleb Amankwah, Robert Addo Sowah and Raddy Ovouka- who had personal issues to settle sought for permission and we’re granted five(5) days off from training but the three defenders returned on Thursday morning for training.
The trio started the game against Guinean side CI Kamsar in the preliminary round of the Champions League and their return has been a good news to coach Samuel Boadu.
Meanwhile, midfielder Gladson Awako will likely miss the first leg of the clash against Wydad Athletic Club. The 30-year-old is expected to begin training next week after he was spotted doing personal training at home last week.
Hearts of Oak last reached the group stage of the competition in 2000 where they became the eventual winners that season.
