Defeat To Kotoko In 2020 Was My Worst Moment As Hearts Coach – Nii Odoom

Former Hearts of Oak Junior Team Coach Edward Nii Odom has admitted that defeat to arch rivals Asante Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League in January 2020 in Accra was his biggest disappointment during his time with the Phobians.

Guinean Naby Keita scored a 90^th-minute penalty as Asante Kotoko claimed a 2-1 victory when the match appeared to be heading to a 1-1 draw.

Joseph Esso had cancelled out Justice Blay’s early strike for the Porcupine Warriors.

 Officiating referee Emmanuel Eshun awarded Kotoko an 88th-minute penalty following a handball by Hearts of Oak defender Mohammed Alhassan which Keita stepped up and converted to give Kotoko all three points.

In an interview on Plan B FM ‘Kawadwen’ Sports with Dan K. Pobi ‘Okocha, Odoom recalled the defeat, where he worked as a stop-gap coach in the 2019/20 Ghana Premier League season following the sacking of Kim Grant. He described the game as his worst moment with Hearts of Oak.

“Losing that game at the Accra Sports Stadium on that day really hurt me. Before that, we had won against them by a goal to nil in Kumasi; so i was expecting another victory in Accra. Kotoko always struggle to beat Hearts whenever I’m in charge. If we had taken our chances well in the first 20 minutes, we could have killed the game”. He stated

He also argued that, the referee got it all wrong in the handball incident which resulted in a penalty in the 88th- minute which eventually won the game for Kotoko.

Nii Odoom was relieved of his duties as head coach of Hearts of Oak junior team Auroras earlier in the week.

The Phobians in a communique stated that the decision to part ways with the experienced coach was part of a re-structuring exercise at the junior level of the club.