Hearts have not sacked Kenichi
The chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak’s Management Committee, Vincent Sowah Odotei, has denied reports that Kenichi Yatsuhashi has been relieved of his position as head coach, insisting that the Japanese-American trainer would lead the Phobians for tomorrow’s Premier League match against Ashantigold at Obuasi.
Advertisement
Yesterday it was rumoured that Hearts management had asked Yatsuhashi to stay away from the club following a spat between the coach and some club officials at a technical meeting last Thursday, but Mr Odotei told the Daily Graphic on phone that the club’s immediate focus was to grab the three points at stake in tomorrow’s match but could not tell the fate of the embattled coach.
"Kenichi is not sacked; he is still the head coach of the team. His recent outburst on social media and his disrespect towards management during a meeting last Thursday and at previous meetings was not new to us. That is his anthem, but we cannot ask him to step aside or sack him at this crucial moment."
“We are not aware of his resignation. As I speak with you, he is here with us at the secretariat and we are going to have a meeting concerning their departure to Obuasi tomorrow so I’m shocked that people are saying that we have sacked him,” Mr Odotei said.
Last Thursday, Hearts parted ways with their Corporate Affairss Manager and scout, Joe Addo, who was accused as the brain behind the recent outbursts of coach Yatsuhashi on social media over unpaid salaries and allowances of his backroom staff.
In solidarity with Joe Addo, the 46-year-old coach took to his Twitter account to share the sentiments of the former worker of the club.
“Very disappointed. He is a quality football person and a quality man,” Yatsuhashi tweeted.
Beyond the boardroom issues, Hearts have been disappointing in recent weeks, failing to win in the last three league matches, including their elimination from the MTN FA Cup by second-tier side, Sarmatex.
