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Kosta Papić’s return to Hearts of Oak was announced by the club three days ago.
As many expected, the Serbian coach was on the sidelines with the team, but only during the warm-up.
He sat in an orange chair and watched his team perform the exercises with a wide smile on his face.
At the end of the session, Papić intercepted the team just before they headed into the tunnel to prepare for the match against Karela.
It was unclear what the new Hearts coach said, but there was a sense of togetherness as the team surrounded him and shouted in unity at the end of the mini-speech.
After which Papić moved up to the VIP section to take his seat among some of Ghana’s great football stakeholders, including the national team’s head coach CK Akonnor and its technical director Bernhard Lippert.
The game started with Hearts on. It’s almost as if the 20-time Premier League champions are filled with adrenaline from Papić’s talk.
The locals threatened as Karela could hardly influence the party.
Patrick Razak had the best chance of the half as he was caught in two minds crossing the ball to touch after it had been played on goal.
Hearts failed to make their dominance count as the adrenaline rush in the side dissipated over time. As a result, Karela grew up in the game and became more entrepreneurial with the ball.
The game tipped into balance as the halftime whistle blew and both sides rushed into the tunnel.
Papić was also quick to join the team in the locker room to try to boost morale once again.
Like a bit of Déjà vu, Hearts came out of the blocks with more energy and looked ready to score the first goal of the game.
Michelle Sarpong had two clear chances in ten minutes, but failed to convert any.
The former saw the southpaw in the right place at the right time after Karela’s keeper stopped an attempt on his way. All Sarpong had to do was connect and score, however he cut his effort over the bar.
His second chance would come minutes later, when a Razak firing was greeted by lightning from Sarpong from outside the area. This time, it was denied by the crossbar.
Karela’s game plan was clear; And that didn’t mean going back to Aiyinase empty-handed.
The time-wasting antics were implemented early in the second half, as Karela’s players needed medical attention whenever Heart began to gain momentum.
Hearts finished the game strong creating a wave of opportunities that Razak and Kojo Obeng Jnr were unable to seize.
The final whistle was greeted with wild cheers from the Karela players and the coaching team as they remain the best in the league.
For Hearts, their troubles are compounded as two points from their first three games is their worst start to the season since 1986.
Papić’s job is clear, as he has to address Hearts of Oak’s front-line conversion rate.
After the match, the Accra-based club’s deputy manager Asare Bediako, who sat on the technical bench against Karela United, spoke of the tactical attempt to play Razak as second striker.
However, in his explanation he kept referring to Papić saying that this was how the Serbian wanted the team to play.
Papić was not on the touchline today, but his footprints have become more visible as Hearts’ intensity undulatingly peaked.
It’s the beginning of a second era, only this time, unlike most coaches, Papić needs to focus on improving attack first, not defense.
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