Former Hearts of Oak captain, Yaw Amankwah Mireku, has voiced skepticism regarding midfielder Salifu Ibrahim’s dedication to the club this season. Mireku suggests that Ibrahim, once instrumental to the team’s success, seems to have lost his passion for the game while donning the Rainbow colors.
Since joining Hearts of Oak in February 2021, the 23-year-old has played a crucial role in the club’s Ghana Premier League triumph that season. However, this campaign has seen a decline in his performance, with only two goals and nine assists in 28 appearances, prompting concerns about his commitment.
Mireku expressed his reservations during an interview with Akoma FM, highlighting the peril of players prioritizing monetary gains and lavish lifestyles over their professional duties.
He stressed that Ibrahim’s apparent lack of passion reflects a broader issue within the club, where players lose sight of their initial motivations.
“Players join Hearts of Oak and lose focus because they want to make money and live an unnecessary lifestyle. Salifu Ibrahim is a typical example, was this his performance when he first joined the club? He no longer plays with passion or zeal”
“This is because he has lost sight of why he came to Hearts of Oak and is now enjoying. Now he’s making money at Hearts of Oak,” he added.
As Hearts of Oak faces critical fixtures against Berekum Chelsea and Aduana Stars in their bid for survival this season, Mireku warns that the players’ lifestyle choices could jeopardize the club’s success.
“Instead of acknowledging the difficulty of playing for Hearts of Oak and putting forth extra effort, the players are just doing it anyhow. They (the players) manage to purchase some small cars, line up the girls, and that’s it. They’re just joking in the club,” Mireku continued.
He urges them to refocus their efforts and prioritize their performance on the field over materialistic pursuits.
“They need to put in a lot of effort and put aside their opulent lifestyle.”
With only six games remaining in the season, Hearts of Oak must rally together to overcome the challenges ahead, starting with their upcoming match against Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park in a Ghana Premier League matchweek 29 fixture.
