Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club, commonly referred to as Hearts of Oak or just Hearts, is 105 years old today.
The club was founded on 11 November 1911 joining existing clubs Excelsior (1903 in Cape-Coast) and Invincibles (1910 in Accra) in the Gold Coast.
Its founding fathers include Asafoatse Nettey, Sinon-Okraku brothes (Adolf, Alfred and Wilhelm), J.T .O Ankrah, J.A Aryee, Dodoo Annang, Darku Abbey, Mark Nettey, the Solomon duo (Amponsah and Kwashie), the Bruce-Tagoe brothers (W.W and T.F), Willie Ocran, TF Wilson, JDK Botwe, FD Amoo, Peter Malm, Quarshie Coker and Akom Duncan.
In 1956, Hearts transitioned to the Ghanaian football league and has remained notable since.
Its trophy cabinet boasts of the following:
CAF Champions League: 2000
CAF Super Cup: 2001
CAF Confederations Cup: 2004
Super Cup – 9 times (4 times being Double Champions)
The club has seen stellar plyers feature for it including Sammy Adjei, Chris Briant (He was the first skipper of the Black Stars), Ofei Ansah, Jacob Netteh, Addo Odametey (Skipper of the Black Stars winning team of 1965) Adolf Armah (Part of Ghana’s AFCON winning team of 1978), Shamo Quaye, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Ishmael Addo, Mohammed Polo and Ofei Dodoo, Dodoo Ankrah, Dan Quaye, Amankwah Mireku,Hesse Odamtey Sanni Wahab, Dong Bortey, Peter Lamptey, Robert Hammond, Mama Acquah, Anas Seidu, Charles Allotey, Joe Ansah, Mahatma Otoo, C.K Gyamfi, Aggrey Fyn, Adu Darko and Charles Taylor.
The club is currently headed by Togbe (King) Afede XIV.
We wish the Continental Club Masters, ‘Phobia Never Say Die Until The Bones Are Rotten’ a happy anniversary and success in the years ahead.