Sergio Daniel Moniz Traguil faces his baptism of fire in his first competitive match in charge of Accra Hearts of Oak when they play Dreams FC at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, with his compatriot Charles Akonnor predicting his side would upset the Phobians in their backyard when the second round of the Premier League commences.
This week, Hearts of Oak parted ways with their Japanese coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi and announced that Portuguese Traguil, originally brought to handle the club’s youth side, Auroras, would now take charge of the first team.
Traguil has hardly had time to settle into his new job, get his players to believe in his tactics, as well as prepare them psychologically to deal with Kenichi’s departure and get them ready for the tricky tie against a confident Dreams FC side.
This change in guard seems to have given Akonnor, himself, a former Hearts' coach, the belief that he could spring a surprise in Accra on Sunday, after both sides split points with a 1-1 draw at Dawu in the first round.
"We bring nothing special to the table on Sunday, except a rejuvenated Dreams side. We worked hard on the challenges we had in the first round and are optimistic the second round will be better.
"We are ready to pick up from where we left off and if there is the chance to exploit any vacuum the absence of their influential coach, will create in the Hearts team, certainly we will take it. Our focus hasn't changed from not just staying on, but also doing well in the GPL and that means facing Hearts heads-on on Sunday," Akonnor told the Graphic Sports.
Hearts struggled to win at home in the first round, winning just three out of seven games, while Dreams also struggled away. But Akonnor insists that will change and Dreams are ready to do well in every game.
In other interesting 16th week fixtures, WAFA host defending champions Ashgold at Sogakope, Techiman City host Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Berekum Chelsea travel to Wa to play league leaders All Stars, 13th-placed Inter Allies host 11th-placed Sekondi Hasaacas at the Tema Stadium, Ebusua Dwarfs welcome Liberty Professionals to the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast, Bechem United host second-placed Aduana Stars at the Nana Gyeabour Park, while New Edubiase United engage Medeama at the Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi.
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