Former Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara has firmly dismissed claims that players were imposed on him during his time in charge of the Phobians.
The Ivorian tactician, who took over midway through the 2023/24 season, was relieved of his role at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and reassigned as Technical Advisor to the club’s board.
Speaking in an interview with Top Sports, Ouattara described suggestions that he had no control over recruitment as untrue, insisting that final decisions always rested with him.
“Nobody forced a player on me during my time. There were recommendations, though,” he stated.
Ouattara also admitted he was disappointed by the decision to remove him as head coach, revealing he had clear plans for the team going into the new season.
“I felt disappointed after I was informed to perform the role of the Technical Advisor because I had a template to put into reality as the head coach,” he added.
His comments come amid ongoing debate among supporters over Hearts of Oak’s recruitment strategy and coaching decisions in recent seasons.
