Former Accra Hearts of Oak assistant coach Hamza Obeng has counselled Ghanaian teams to see participation in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup as a project that they can build on over time to improve their performance.
In the African Interclub Competitions, the Ghana Premier League clubs have found it difficult to compete professionally. The current embarrassment for Ghanaian football is that the two clubs that had won the most consecutive competitions in Africa were eliminated at the first hurdle.
Finding answers to the appalling showing of Ghanaian teams at the elite level of African football is a concern for all football-loving fans in Ghana.
Hamza Obeng, who shares the same sentiment with his boss, Samuel Boadu, had hoped for Accra Hearts of Oak to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Real Bamako.
In response to the ongoing failures of clubs in Ghana at African Club competitions, Hamza Obeng told Connect Sports that the teams that are able to win the title have strong foundations that are built on projects they pour enormous resources into.
Hamza Obeng said on Connect 97.1 FM in Accra to Benjamin Quansah, “Other countries take the Africa Inter Club Competition as a project. Things have changed in the world of football. Football goes beyond what you see on the field of play. Some clubs groom players for a period of time. WAC had a project which had lasted for 10 years.”
Hamza stated that poor preparation over the years has also had an impact on the success of Ghanaian teams. Hamza was a member of Hearts of Oak’s technical squad during their African campaign the previous season.
The two-time MTN FA Cup winner with the head coach Samuel Boadu said on Connect 97.1 FM “Football is not a game of chance but of preparation. When you play a well-prepared opponent, you will recognize the difference. If Hearts of Oak were able to maintain the team which won them the league two seasons ago, we would have seen a difference in their performance. “