In a candid assessment of Accra Hearts of Oak's recent struggles, former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah has expressed concern over the club's inability to secure victories in matches that were once considered within their grasp.
Appiah, a revered figure in Ghanaian football, went on to lament that the current rendition of Hearts of Oak deviates significantly from the powerhouse he once knew.
This commentary follows the Phobians' recent setback in the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League, where they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat against archrivals Asante Kotoko during match week 14.
With Hearts languishing in ninth place on the league table, amassing 16 points from 14 games, and their premature exit from the 2023 FA Cup courtesy of a loss to lower-tier side FC Nania, Appiah's remarks underscore the pressing challenges facing one of Ghana's football giants.
"The Accra Hearts of Oak we know is not what we are seeing today. They are finding it difficult to win matches that we think they will," Appiah told Joy Sports.
"We have to know that gone are the days where you have only two or three teams winning over and over again. These days we have other clubs who are doing so well. It's very competitive.
"[The players] should know that going on the pitch is not about Accra Hearts of Oak. It's about what you do on the pitch,"