Accra Hearts of Oak head coach, Frank Elliot Nuttall says Samuel Akurugu deserved his start in the 1-0 win over Asante Kotoko in week 8 of the Ghana Premier League on Sunday.
Akurugu, who has been deployed as second choice for most his time with the club since joining from Sekondi Hasaacas at the start of last season was given a rare starting role in the club's biggest game of the campaign against Asante Kotoko ahead of first choice goal keeper Benjamin Mensah.
He went on to produce a magnificent performance in the game as the Phobians broke their seven-year winless run against their arch-rivals by winning 1-0 courtesy a late Vincent Atinga's penalty.
He replied,“I think Sam [Akurugu] deserved his chance,” Nuttall told accraheartsofoaksc.com
“The man played half the games I think last season and [they were] 90 minutes game[s] so he deserved his chance [against Kotoko] and he did very well and I was very pleased with him.”
He joined Hearts at the beginning of last season and he went on to play 15 games as a second choice behind Soulama Abdoulaye.