Former Accra Hearts of Oak board member, Frank Nelson Nwokolo, has come to the defense of head coach Aboubakar Ouattara amid criticism of the club’s recent poor form in the Ghana Premier League(GPL). Following nine match days, Hearts of Oak have registered two wins, three draws, and three losses, placing them on nine points out of a possible 24—a record that has disappointed many fans.

Sections of the fanbase have blamed Coach Ouattara, calling for his dismissal.

However, in an interview with Luv Sports, Frank Nelson stated that the club's challenges stem more from player quality than coaching decisions.

He emphasized that Hearts of Oak’s current squad lacks the calibre of players needed to meet the club's high standards.

“I won’t blame the coach or the players," Nelson explained. "We need to examine the root cause of the problem, particularly in terms of recruitment.

Are the players currently at Hearts of Oak capable of upholding the club’s legacy?

In the past, Hearts was known for attracting top talent like Yaw Sakyi from Kotoko and Eric Gawu from King Faisal, and we need to return to that standard."

Nelson called on the club’s management to focus on bringing in proven players from the local league rather than recruiting from lower divisions.

He argued that players with experience in the Premier League have the potential to elevate Hearts’ performance.

“We should prioritize players who have proven themselves, not those from Division One or Two,” he advised. “Accra Hearts of Oak has a history of excellence, and we shouldn’t settle for mediocrity.

It’s essential to refine our recruitment strategy to bring in players who can compete at a high level.”

Having lost his board position at the last AGM, Nelson also recommended strengthening Hearts of Oak’s scouting system to identify top talents early.

He voiced concerns over the club's current recruitment approach, which he believes lacks consistency.

“This season, for instance, we brought in around fifteen new players, and last season was similar.

Constantly rotating ten to fifteen players each season prevents the team from building cohesion.

A strong scouting team would enable us to target the best players ahead of the season rather than conducting mass recruitment,” Nelson added.

Hearts of Oak will aim to improve their standing as they travel to face Medeama SC at the Tarkwa T&A Stadium in their next Ghana Premier League fixture.