Former Hearts of Oak coach Mohammed Polo has expressed surprise at the departure of Kenichi Yatsuhashi from the Phobian club.

The Japanese-American, who left the Ghanaian giants two points adrift of league leaders Wa All Stars in the Ghana Premier League, terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent.

Speaking to Class Sports, Polo said: “I was surprised to have heard it, but I saw it coming because there was a lot of accusations against the coach for some time, but at the end of the first round, we were thinking that they would allow him to finish up the second round, so we see what he has done for Hearts, but now that he has left, it’s clear [we are going to do things differently again]”.

Reports indicate Portuguese Sergio Traguil, who was recently hired to facilitate the youth system of the club, is set to be named as Kenichi’s successor on a three-year deal.

Mr Polo, however, said the former Benfica man cannot be judged as the right or wrong person for the job until he has been tested.

“We have seen what Kenichi has done and we are yet to see what the Portuguese is coming to do because he is yet to take over. So, we have seen what one has done and we have not seen the other. Not until he starts and is in line with what the club want, we cannot say anything about him now,” the former soccer star stated.