Former Accra Hearts of Oak player, Lawrence Adjah Tetteh has expressed disappointment for the cancellation of the 2001 FIFA Club World Cup tournament as he strongly believes the Phobians could have make a meaningful impact at the time.
The Phobians won their first-ever CAF Champions League in 2000 under coach Jones Cecil Attoquayefio after beating Esperance 3-1 on aggregate to win the continental showpiece.
The victory meant Hearts of Oak were to play at FIFA Club World Cup. But In 2001, the rainbow boys missed out on playing in the second edition of the FIFA Club World Cup in Spain following the collapse of FIFA’s marketing partner IS.
Recounting the memories in an interview with Bryt FM, Adjah Tetteh said, “We won the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup during our time. We qualified for the Club world cup but unfortunately for us it was cancelled”
“We could have won that trophy. The tournament was cancelled and so each of the qualified teams would make a case of winning it. So I believe we could have won it”
“I can also make a case for myself that Roberto Carlos of Real Madrid at the time was not better than me”
“Not playing in the club world cup dumped most of the player’s chances. A team brought an offer to sign me so I decided to use the tournament to showcase myself better to the club in order to increase my value”
“But in all I will say I am satisfied with my achievements in football” he concluded.