Veteran Coach Bashir Hayford has confirmed that he will remain with Heart of Lions for the upcoming season, despite not having finalized his future plans.
After a remarkable 2024/25 season, where the team finished second behind Bibiani Goldstars, Hayford is determined to “prove a point” at the club.
The Kpando-based side narrowly escaped relegation the previous season, but Hayford’s leadership and strategic decisions played a crucial role in their survival.
“It was a rescue mission and so I could have left [after accomplishing that] but I said, no, let me prove a point,” he explained on Onua Sports.
Hayford recounted the challenges he faced, including the difficulty in finding assistant coaches who were willing to join a team fighting relegation.
However, with the support of Stephen Ahorlu, the goalkeepers’ trainer, they managed to secure their spot in the league.
Notably, Hayford praised Abdul-Karim Zito, the current Asante Kotoko coach, who recommended him for the job when he was contacted.
“He told the officials that I, Hayford, was the only coach capable of rescuing the team from relegation,” Hayford revealed.
