Former Hearts of Oak chief Ernest Thompson laments decline of clubâ??s stature

Former Hearts of Oak board secretary Ernest Thompson has expressed concern over the current state of the club, describing its decline as deeply worrying.

Speaking on Sporty FM, Thompson said he finds it difficult to publicly criticise the club, though he is disappointed by its present condition. "I wouldn’t tell lies, I don’t like the state of Hearts of Oak," he said. "But I refrain, knowing that running football is difficult at times. I refrain from criticising them in public."

The veteran football administrator, who was part of the management during the club’s golden era, recalled the days when Hearts of Oak commanded fear and respect across the continent.

"I thought we got to a stage when we won the African Cup and thereafter Hearts of Oak was not only playing football but was making a statement," he said. "When you saw the team coming, you were even afraid. There was a time people even had to beg us how many goals we should score them."

Thompson referenced a memorable encounter in Tanzania during the CAF Champions League era when local fans pleaded with Hearts to “take it easy.” He lamented that after such dominance, the club’s fortunes have gradually declined.

"When a club starts coming down, bringing it up again is not easy at all," he noted. Hearts of Oak, who last won a major trophy in 2022, are currently unbeaten in the Ghana Premier League but remain outside the top four.

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