Hearts of Oak head coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has outlined a clear objective for his side ahead of their Week 21 Ghana Premier League encounter against Bechem United, calling on his players to play with courage and intelligence.
The Phobians will host Bechem United at the University of Ghana Stadium on Sunday, February 1, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 pm. Hearts go into the fixture in encouraging form, having won two of their last three matches, and will be eager to build on that momentum as they push closer to the top of the league table.
Speaking on Hearts of Oak TV, Dramani stressed that courage, rather than mere confidence, is central to the style of football he wants his team to play.
“First of all, what we need to engineer is players having the ability to play with courage,” he said. “We don’t just instill confidence; we ask players to play with courage. Playing football means having the courage to take risks and make certain decisions on the pitch.”
The former Black Stars assistant coach explained that Hearts are being shaped to play what he described as a “cognitively embedded” brand of football, where players are encouraged to think, solve problems, and make the right decisions in real time.
“We want to solve problems. We want the right awareness, attention, pattern recognition and anticipation. Every decision made on the pitch has to be deeply thought about,” Dramani noted.
According to him, while coaches provide structure and guidance, it is ultimately the players who must take responsibility during games.
“When the game is on, it is the players who make decisions and solve problems. We give them the cues, and from there they must react. That is how we grow and improve as a team,” he added.
Hearts of Oak will be hoping that approach translates into a strong performance and maximum points against a Bechem United side known for their discipline and competitiveness.
