Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hearts of Oak, Harry Zakkour, has urged the club’s leadership to entrust its management to younger administrators.
Speaking on a Prime Take interview with Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, Zakkour criticised the current board for being too old to effectively manage the team.
“You see what is happening now… you see, in my time, we had a good board of directors. When I look at the recent happenings, you need youth to run Hearts of Oak, not old men,” he stated.
The 75-year-old questioned the current leadership’s commitment, asking, “Would they have enough time to come and run Accra Hearts of Oak? Would they have time… those board members, who are there now, are they going to the training grounds or to the camp to look after the boys? The boys need attention.
“Footballers are like women, if you don’t give them attention, how do you get results from them?”
Zakkour managed Hearts of Oak for six years, winning almost every trophy in Ghana and Africa, but he left his role following censures from some quarters of the club.
“Why did I leave Hearts of Oak? When I started winning, people thought it was easy to win. In Ga, people say ‘moko aya, ni moko aba’ (to wit, people would come and go and will be replaced by others). I heard it at the stadium, and I said, ‘no, I will go,'”Zakkour stated.
At the successful peak of Hearts of Oak, the team dominated Ghana football with class, winning every single trophy before them, especially during the days of Zakkour.
“I ran the club for six good years. There’s nothing on earth I never won. I won the Top 4, GALA, everything. I won the league six times, the FA Cup, and the CAF Cup. That alone is enough,” he explained.
Though an astute businessman who later ventured into politics, the Ghanaian of Lebanese descent attributes his current status in society to the Phobia family.
“[My success at Hearts of Oak] made me who I am today. Hearts of Oak made me who I am today. Wherever I go, people give me first-class treatment because of Hearts of Oak, so when I see Hearts in difficulty, it itches my body.
“I am so proud of Hearts of Oak,” he stated.
Despite his success, Zakkour did not receive shares in the club when it was floated nearly 20 years ago.
When asked why he didn’t buy shares since the success of the club is dear to his heart, he said, “They won’t give me. Togbe will never give me shares in the club. He never wants to float my shares.
“How much are my shares? $140,000 or $150,000, which I paid for the ticket and travelling of the team for a competition. I used my kids’ school fees to make those payments, and my wife almost divorced me.
Zakkour, who served as Chairman of Great Olympics before switching to Hearts of Oak reckons the money spent on the club would have given him profit if he saved it in a bank.
“If you had put that $140,000 or $150,000 those days, over 20 years ago in the bank, how much interest would you get by now? Wouldn’t I be the number one floating share in the club? But I don’t want to fight anybody.”
Despite his grievances, the 75-year-old is unwilling to pursue legal action.
“It’s on a document. I have a copy in my office, and they have it in the Hearts of Oak administration. Ashford Tetteh [former Administrative Manager] has everything. But why do I have to fight? Take Hearts of Oak to court?
“It would be a disgrace for Harry Zakkour to take Hearts to court.”
Prime Take airs every Friday at 7:30 am on the AM Show on JoyNews, Saturday at 7:30 PM, and Sunday at 11:00 am.