Head coach for newly promoted Ghana Premier League side, Kpando Heart of Lions, Salifu Fatau has said that he expects the team not to repeat the mistakes they made in the topflight the last time they gained promotion to the League.
Heart of Lions have already been crowned champions of the Access Bank Division One zone three after just 25 games after they opened up a 19-point gap between themselves and second-placed Vision FC, earning them the right to play in the Ghana Premier League for the 2023/24 season with 5 more league games remaining.
Speaking to Max FM in an exclusive interview, the head coach for the Kpando-based club admitted their journey back to the top flight hasn’t been an easy one but the also said he has been impressed with the support from the players, management, and supporters of the club during the incredible run.
“It has not been easy since I took over, but with the determination I came in with and also having the other technical members joining with the same level of determination, also with the boys [players], management and supporters have all been on board and helped towards our qualification back to the Premier League”, coach Salifu Fatau said in the interview.
The head coach for the club also expressed his admiration for the club’s first stint in the Ghana Premier League which started when they first gained promotion in the 2003 season before being relegated from the top flight in the 2015 season after spending 12 straight years in the division but reiterated he and his technical staff won’t allow the factors that led to the team’s demotion 8 years ago happen again.
“Personally as a coach I know the history of Kpando Heart of Lions when they were in the Premier League, and now taking over as coach and making sure we qualify I’m sure with the experience of my technical team we won’t allow what happened back then to repeat itself”, Salifu Fatau said.
WE ARE TECHNICALLY AND TACTICALLY READY TO BATTLE THE BIG TEAMS IN THE GHANA PREMIER LEAGUE – HEART OF LIONS ASST. COACH, SULLEY ADAMU
Assistant coach for newly promoted Kpando Heart of Lions, Seidu Adamu has said the team is ready both technically and tactically to battle the big teams in the BetPawa Premier League come next season.
Heart of Lions sealed qualification back to the top flight after an eight-year absence, winning the Division One Zone 3 title with as many as five games remaining in the division.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Max FM, Seidu Adamu eulogized the head coach of the club, Salifu Fatawu, branding him as “one of the best” in the league and also expressing his satisfaction with the coach’s impact on the team throughout the season.
“I say we are ready because my boss [coach Fatawu] is one of the best coaches, a very good developer and you can see all the qualities from the way he prepares this team”, Seidu said before adding, “We were all well prepared for the pre-season and the management have also done a good job with the payment of player salaries and winning bonuses which keeps the players highly motivated’.
The assistant coach also added that the team is ready to battle it out with the big guns in the league for a top-four finish. “We are technically and tactically ready to play in the Ghana Premier League. We are highly motivated to finish at least in the top four of the league.”