Accra, Jan 7, GNA - The Champion club, Accra Hearts of Oaks might have been tipped by bookmakers as pre-tournament favourite of the much-awaited Coca Cola Top Four tournament but the woes of the club are far from over as the team is expected to enter the competition without head coach, Herbert Addo.

Information gathered by the GNA Sports indicates that the Phobians who will be playing as guest of tournament debutants, Berekum Arsenals in Kumasi on Sunday will be without the directions of the head coach who has abandoned the team since the pre-season training begun. Our sources indicates that coach Addo has refused to train with the team due to the clubs inability to settle all debts owed him since last season.

The coach who is currently without any contract according to our information has decided to have nothing to do with the club until he is fully settled and he will then either decide to renegotiate for a further stay with the club or decide otherwise.

While the management of the club maintains that the coach has been settled and was poised to start work soon but cited ill health as the excuse for his delay, the coach was tight-lipped about his employers claims when the GNA caught up with him in town.

A visit to the Hearts training grounds by the Sports Desk over the past few days saw the team preparing massively for the Sundays' showdown under the instructions of deputy coach, Ofei Ansah. The GNA learnt that coach Addo worked without contract during the last football season and in his quest to straighten up things, he choose to stay away from the team as he is currently under no obligation to train the team hence his absence.

Bearing any unforeseen circumstances, the Phobians who have been tipped by bookmakers as favourites ahead of the month-long fiesta, which commences on Sunday, are expected to parade a team which will do battle with stubborn Arsenals at the Kumasi Sports Stadium without the tactician.

Last season, coach Addo led the club to clinch a 1-0 decisive win over the Berekum lads when the two sides met in a first round league game at the Accra Sports Stadium before tying 0-0 in the return encounter in Berekum.