Ex-Hearts of Oak skipper Thomas Abbey has disclosed the cause of their 2017 MTN FA Cup final defeat to arch-rivals Asante Kotoko.
The Porcupine Warriors thrashed the Phobians 3-1 courtesy Saddick Adams's first-half hat-trick that propelled them to a ninth FA Cup triumph at the Tamale Sports stadium.
According to Abbey, Hearts players refused to train ahead of the finals in Tamale because the club failed to pay their salaries and bonuses for three months.
"I can say that before the match, everything favoured Hearts. We were supposed to win but there were very serious problems in the team. We had not been paid for three months and winning bonuses from seven matches were also not paid," he told Angel FM.
"I can tell you that, before the final, we were not even training. We were protesting so we will go to the training grounds and only jog for twenty minutes and go back home.
"Most of the players had their contracts expired so we knew the match was the last opportunity to demand our pay. Not surprising that we lost in the first half. I can say it was what led to the defeat."