FC Samartex head coach Nana Agyeman has expressed confidence in his side’s preparations ahead of their Ghana Premier League clash against Hearts of Oak, insisting that the Samreboi-based club must turn its home grounds into a fortress.
Speaking on Plan B 104.5 FM’s Kawadwen Sports, hosted by Dan K. Pobi Okocha, Agyeman described Hearts of Oak as one of Ghana’s biggest clubs but maintained that Samartex are well prepared for what he expects to be a difficult encounter.
“We have prepared well enough for them. We have to make sure that our home grounds in Samreboi become a fortress. It’s going to be a difficult game, but we will do well and beat them,” he said.
Samartex currently sit third on the Ghana Premier League table with 18 points.
The coach also shared his expectations for the Black Stars ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Somalia, urging the team to adopt an attacking approach in both encounters.
Agyeman believes Ghana must avoid sitting back and instead identify Somalia’s weaknesses early in the game to maximise their chances of securing victories.
“I’m expecting that we don’t sit back against Somalia. It’s not the Ghana style of play. We need to attack and locate their weaknesses in the first half so we can exploit them and win the games,” he stated.
He further called on the players to demonstrate total commitment and put up a strong fight to secure victories in both legs.
The Samartex coach also welcomed the inclusion of five Ghana Premier League players in interim coach Kim Lars Björkegren’s 26-man squad for the qualifiers, describing their call-ups as an encouraging sign for the domestic league.
The five players are Benjamin Asare, Isaac Afful, Musa Hamzata, Etse Dogli and Emmanuel Annor.
According to Agyeman, their inclusion reflects the efforts of local coaches in developing players capable of competing at the highest level of the national team.
“It is a delight to have about five local players being called into the Black Stars. It makes us, the coaches in the Ghana Premier League, happy that our players are receiving call-ups. It shows that we are doing something right,” he said.
He encouraged other locally based players to work harder to attract the attention of the Black Stars technical team.
On the development of Ghana football, Agyeman acknowledged improvements in the quality of the Premier League since he began coaching three seasons ago but stressed that more investment and motivation are needed to sustain its growth.
He called on club owners, government and other football stakeholders to play their respective roles, particularly by ensuring that players are adequately paid and motivated.
“The league should be bedevilled with money and motivation for the players. Players need to be paid and motivated well,” he added.
Agyeman also emphasised the importance of maintaining a consistent playing philosophy across all levels of FC Samartex, explaining that his priority is to establish a clear identity for the club.
He said he expects both the senior and junior teams to play according to the same tactical system he has introduced, noting that the club’s priority should be to understand and implement his football philosophy.
By: Bernard Mensah
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