Soccer News of Sunday, 10 November 2013

Source: footy-ghana.com

Sacked Coach Duncan visits Hearts players at camp

Dismissed Hearts of Oak Head Coach David Duncan visited the club’s final work-out session at the Lizzy Sports Complex in East Legon to psyche up the Phobian players ahead of their match day 11 Ghana Premier League fixture against Amidaus Professionals at the Tema Park.

“Let us put all this behind us. Whether I am in or out, let us do it for a great club like Hearts. The only thing we can do to compensate the people who did this for us is, tomorrrow is we will have to go and kill ourselves whether I am present or not. We must win, we must not go for a point because of the support of the fans. Tomorrow, I will be here. We are going into the game with our full arsenals,” Coach Duncan told the Hearts playing body.

“I feel very humbled. I am overwhelmed by your support. A few hours of this incident feels like a year's gap. I do not know how I am going to pay the fans back for the support. They have put their safety and a lot aside just for me. “I shed some tears because I do not know what to do for Hearts fans. I heeded your call as a sign of my gratitude. There is no bad blood between me or any other player or technical team member. We will go into the game with the same approach,” the former Free State Stars Coach added.

The 50-year-old has refused to be on the bench for Hearts against Amidaus, stating that the power to reinstate him lies with the Board.

Duncan’s visit to the Hearts training session was influenced by irate Phobian fans, who went to the ex-AshantiGold coach’s residence following a demonstration at the Rainbow club’s secretariat to protest his sack.

The Hearts of Oak Board is expected to hold a meeting either on Monday or Thursday to take a decision on the request by the fans of the club to restore David Duncan as Head Coach.

Reports say Coach Duncan was fired after an argument with the club’s top officials regarding the reinforcement of the Hearts attacking department.

The ex-Black Meteors and Black Starlets Coach was against the use of striker Gilbert Fiamenyo, who has developed a fatty stature, which is disturbing his mobility in attack for the Phobians.

Hearts of Oak’s decision to allow the players train at the artificial pitch at Lizzy Sports Complex rather than the grass field at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC) in Kokomemle is because the game against Amidaus will be played on a synthetic turf at the Tema Park.