Hearts of Oak coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has expressed unease about the scheduling of the 2025 GHALCA Top 4 tournament, which kicks off on Wednesday, August 20.
According to the newly appointed trainer, the competition comes too early in pre-season, leaving players unprepared for full match intensity.
He argued that teams should be permitted to make more than three substitutions to ease the physical demands on their squads.
The Phobians will begin their Top 4 campaign against Heart of Lions at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, only three days after defeating the same opponents 2-0 to claim the Homowo Cup.
Hearts qualified for the tournament in dramatic fashion last season, edging into fourth place after Nations FC suffered a points deduction.
“I think that it is a very good program for the football industry, but the timing of it is worrisome,” Dramani said after Sunday’s victory.
“We need to try to alter the substitutions so that, in this [Heart of Lions] game for instance, if you have just worked for two weeks, you don't go in for a high-profile game.
“If you can do multiple substitutions, then it's easy for you to bring in more legs so that you don't stress. I estimated 60 minutes for some players, but I ended up pushing them to 90 minutes.
“For me, deloading is so, so important when you really want to keep players fit.”
Dramani signed a two-year contract in June to replace Aboubakar Ouattara.
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