Feb 16, 2021 - 09:38 am By Staff Reporter
Kostadin Papic has parted ways with Hearts of Oak after just 79 days in charge of the Ghana Premier League giants.
Papic returned to the 20-time league champions in December for a second stint in charge but has lasted less than three months at the helm.
Last week Papic called on for the need of reinforcements to the squad as they fell outside the top 10 in the league and with rumours brewing that he s received offers in South African and Tanzania - Papic has tendered his resignation.
The Serbian departs with goalkeeper coach Ben Owu with the club stating results have not met expectations resulting in a need for new technical leadership .
Earlier, he coached Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg United in South Africa, as well as Enyimba and Enugu Rangers in Nigeria. This is not his first time. He [Papic] won the league with us. He is what Hearts of Oak need now, Bortey, who was on the books of Hearts during the 2009 GPL triumph, told Silver FM.
“He’s impressed me so far with his performance with the team. Let’s pray for him so that whatever he wants to do with the team comes to fruition.
This season, Hearts have set their sights on winning their 20th league title to close up the gap on archrivals Asante Kotoko who have 23 trophies to their name.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Ashanti Gold picked up a 2-1 away win over Great Olympics to move top of the table. Gladson Awako gave the home side a 14th-minute lead but Amos Addai and Yaw Annor hit back for the Miners at the Accra Sports Stadium.
At the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park, Bechem United were held to a 1-1 draw by King Faisal, denying the Hunters a chance to take a two-point lead at the top of the standings. Moro Salifu scored first for Bechem but Kwame Peprah fetched the equaliser for the visitors just a minute after half-time. Faisal sit bottom of the league table.
The news was captured in the 2020 Ghana Premier League Report released to the general public via ASC s official website on Thursday.
According to the ASC, the report is based on a nationwide survey involving a sample size of 3,300 respondents in Ghana. Data was collected in every administrative district in each administrative region of the country, giving the research and its findings a strong base . Attractive” was defined as the one player that is most likely to draw or pull respondents to watch a GPL game or follow the GPL .
The research was conducted between October and November last year before the commencement of the 2020-21 GPL season.