Returnee Hearts of Oak coach, Kosta Papic says winning the Ghana Premier League (GPL) title influenced his decision to accept a second stint.
Despite being sacked in his first stint, the Serb played an instrumental role in the Phobians’ last league title triumph in the 2008/09 season.
Papic had taken charge of a Hearts team that had finished 7th the previous season and transformed them into title contenders. He was, however, sacked after 23 games in the then Glo Premier League.
Hearts finished the first round leading the league log with 35 points. But their season began to take a downward turn as they won twice in between three straight drawn games and a subsequent three defeats to AshantiGold, arch-rivals Asante Kotoko and a 9-man King Faisal in Kumasi on match-day 23.
This saw Hearts of Oak’s 14-point lead at the start of the second round cut down to five by second-placed Heart of Lions.
Displeased by the dwindling fortunes, the hierarchy of Hearts decided to sack Papic upon the team’s return to Accra. He left the club amassing 44 points – 13 wins, 5 draws and defeats respectively.
Hearts went on to maintain their lead at the top and eventually won the league with 52 points – three above arch-rivals Asante Kotoko who settled for second spot.
Some 11 years later, Papic is back as head coach and says the club has the potential to win the domestic and laurels, hence his return.
“What made me come back to Hearts of Oak was to win the league and possibly the Caf Champions League.
“I believe the team has the capacity to do that and we are working on it, it is not easy but we are going to fight for it,“ he told Fox FM.
Hearts of Oak have won twice and lost once since Papic returned to the dugout and are currently placed 7th on the 2020/21 GPL log after six games.
