Aziz Futa links struggles of Hearts and Kotoko to Black Stars’ decline

Former Hearts of Oak management committee member, Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa, has attributed the Black Stars’ challenges to the ongoing struggles of the country’s two powerhouses, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko.

Hearts of Oak ended a 12-year league title drought in the 2020/21 season, while Asante Kotoko broke their eight-year title dry spell in 2021/22.

Despite these successes, both clubs have struggled to maintain consistent form this season.

Notably, players from the two clubs have rarely featured prominently in the Black Stars since the early 2000s.

This issue has reignited debates about including Ghana Premier League players in the national team, particularly after the Black Stars’ failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Speaking to Happy FM, Futa highlighted the urgency of addressing the performance issues at Hearts and Kotoko.

“If you look at Kotoko recently, losing four matches in a row—this is not Kotoko. Although we’ve won three in a row, we lost matches before that. These two giant clubs cannot be allowed to collapse, and that’s why the Black Stars are struggling now.” He said.

He urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to prioritize the revitalisation of these clubs.

“The FA must focus on these clubs because you can’t compare them to any other.”

The two teams are set to face off in the much-anticipated “Super Clash” on Sunday, December 15, 2024.