According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, oak
is a large tree that produces small nuts called acorns. The oak tree is not a
single species, but about 600 species of this tree exist worldwide. Interestingly,
oak trees can live up to 200 years or more, and mature trees have the capacity
of absorbing more than 50 gallons of water in one day. In the year 2004, the
oak was officially declared as the National Tree of the United States symbolizing
nation's strength.
The oak tree is associated with several mythologies. In
Norse mythology, it is the sacred tree of Thor, the thunder god. The Greek
mythology presents it as the sacred tree of the king of gods, Zeus. And in
Slavic mythology, it is the tree of utmost importance to god Perun.
The Bible also mentions an oak tree located at Shechem,
which was the place where Jacob had buried foreign gods of the people.
 |
| * Hearts of Oak |
This is why any establishment with the oak tree as its
emblem is bound to stand the test of time. Not many clubs formed over 100 years
ago are still in existence, many have obviously sunk into total oblivion. Not
because they lacked the materials to propel the team but because they lacked
the courage and the durability that Accra Hearts of Oak easily possesses.
In 2000, Accra Hearts of Oak won the treble after winning
the Ghana FA Cup, the Ghana Premier League and the CAF Champions League. The
season kicked off with the return of Ishmael Addo from trials in Europe and the
signing of Charles Asampong Taylor. It was in that same year that they
inflicted a 4-0 defeat on their arch rivals Asante Kotoko on their way to
winning the league with several matches to spare.
With a motto as instructive as “Never say die until the
bones are rotten”, it is evidently clear that the phobians do not easily give
up. Time without number, they have won games at the depth of full time when all
hopes seems to have been lost. And that is the spirit that has kept this great
team for 102 years.
Today marks another great milestone in the life of Ghana’s
oldest team, and arguably the best club ever to grace the face of Ghanaian club
football. In 2001, the International Federation of Football History and
Statistics (IFFHS), an international organization recognized by FIFA rated
Hearts of Oak 83rd out of 100 clubs in the world. This was no fluke
as the club won almost every trophy they competed for. In that same year,
Hearts was rated 8th Best Club in the world by CNN / World Soccer Magazine.
 |
| * Hearts of Oak players pray before a match |
Throughout its history, the club has had the privilege of
having very talented players donning the famous rainbow coloured jersey of the one
and only “soccer masters”. Numerous players who are fortunate enough to have
been associated with this great club in one way or the other are recognized
worldwide as great players who can compete on any level in professional
football. Hearts of Oak’s Emmanuel Chris Briandt was the 1st ever Captain of
the Black Stars, and when the Black stars won the Africa Cup of Nations for the
first time in 1963, skipper Edward Aggrey-Fynn was also the captain of Hearts. The
skipper of the Black Stars that qualified Ghana for its first ever FIFA World
Cup Tournament in Germany
2006, and a repeat in South Africa 2010, Stephen
Appiah, was nurtured and brought to stardom by Hearts.
Other notable players produced are Nana CK Gyamfi, Offei Ansah,
Yaw Amankwaa Mireku, Sammy Adjei, Adolf Armah, Mohammed Ahmed Polo, Shamo
Quaye, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, Bernard Dong-Bortey, Ablade Kumah - Captain of
the Black Meteors that won Africa’s 1st ever Olympic soccer bronze medal at the
Barcelona Olympics (1992) and Ishmael Addo – Golden Boots Winner at the FIFA
Under17 World Cup in New Zealand (1999) and 3 time Ghana Premier League goal
king in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Hearts of Oak boasts of the arguably the largest fan base in
Ghana, and even beyond the borders of the country. Football fanatics around the
world who know anything about club soccer in Africa obviously know more about
ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK and what it stands for. Undeniably, the success of the club
hinges on its massive following especially the “Musical Chapter 0” which offers
a unique brand of both the ‘Kpanlogo and kolomashie” kind of music which spurs
on the players to always give off their best.
Over the years, the club has had the honour and privilege of
being led by astute leaders, who are visionaries in soccer philosophies; and
have shown dedicated service to the course and progress of the club.
Among the most distinguished soccer leaders who have graced
the helm at Hearts of Oak include, Dr.Nyaho Tamakloe, Late President JEA Mills,
Harry Zakkour (millennium chairman), Fawaz Zowk, Ernest Thompson, Nii Ayi Bonte
II (Gbese Mantse), EM Commodore Mensah, Frank Nelson Nwokolo, Ato Ahwoi, and
quite recently Togbe Afede (Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State) and the current
Managing Director Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe.
 |
| * Managing Director - Neil Armstrong-Mortagbe |
On the occasion of 102 years of hard work and great
achievement, it is important to rally every tom, dick and harry round the oak
tree draped in rainbow colours for a common good. There is the need for a
united front in the interest of Hearts of Oak to relive the good old times.
Gone are the good old days but the future looks brighter.
Never Say Die Until The Bones Are Rotten…
Long Live the Oak Tree!
Long live the Phobian Family!!
Long Live Hearts of Oak!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment