Hearts coach unhappy with off-season high-profile fixtures

Hearts of Oak head coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has voiced his displeasure over scheduling high-profile football matches during the off-season, arguing that such games threaten players' physical and mental well-being.

The experienced tactician emphasised that this period should be dedicated to player recovery rather than competitive action.

“We are not in the right period in association football,” Coach Dramani told the club’s official website.

During this period, the players should have been recuperating or transitioning from physical and mental rest to pre-season preparation. But instead, we are burdening them with another highly demanding fixture.”

The veteran gaffer explained that players require time to rest and reset physically and mentally after a long and exhausting season.

He believes off-season fixtures, particularly high-stakes matches, risk pushing players beyond their limits, increasing the likelihood of injury and burnout.

Despite his concerns, the experienced coach said he would rely on his tactical awareness and player management skills to navigate the situation without overburdening his squad.

“We try as much as possible to manage the loads in the game. It’s not ideal, but as a coach, I have to find a balance between competitiveness and player safety,” he noted.

He described this as a “difficult time of the year” to engage in high-level matches, especially with teams yet to begin their pre-season.

“It’s a challenging time of the year when you have a high-profile game during the off-season, even before proper pre-season preparations have begun. These are not normal conditions under which to compete,” he added.