Hearts of Oak has officially announced Martin Koopman as their new head coach
Hearts of Oak, a prominent team in the Ghana Premier League, has officially announced Martin Koopman as their new head coach.
Koopman, a Dutch trainer who previously managed the Maldives national team from 2019 to 2021, is stepping in just in time for the upcoming 2023/24 season.
The team welcomed Koopman to their ranks last Thursday, introducing him to the squad ahead of a pre-season friendly against the lower-tier Miracle Land Football Club.
This appointment comes after a period without a permanent coach following the departure of Serbian manager Slavko Matic. Matic left the team due to a string of poor results and a strained relationship with the fans during the previous season.
During Matic’s final days in charge, frustrated fans even went so far as to invade the team’s training ground at Pobiman, leading to some physical altercations.
After Matic’s departure, assistant coach David Ocloo took on the role of interim manager until the end of the campaign.
Koopman brings with him a wealth of experience, including coaching AS Vita Club on the continent.
In addition to this coaching change, Hearts of Oak has ambitious plans for their facilities. Togbe Afede XIV, the club’s Board Chairman, revealed that they are gearing up to construct a stadium with a seating capacity of 25,000. This project will follow the completion of the ultramodern Pobiman training complex.
Togbe Afede XIV explained that having a stadium with this capacity is a requirement set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for participation in the upcoming African Super League.
He further shared that the club is actively searching for suitable land to build the stadium, as they are committed to meeting all necessary criteria.
Togbe Afede XIV emphasized, “Once Pobiman is completed, the only missing piece of the puzzle is a sizable stadium. CAF stipulates a minimum capacity of 25,000 seats. After completing our current projects, that’s our next focus. Our forward-thinking board has already embarked on finding the right location for the stadium. We’re working diligently on all fronts, even though it’s a challenging endeavor.”
Hearts of Oak concluded the previous season in 12th place and has high hopes of making substantial progress under Koopman’s leadership.
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