“We did a very good job but I tell you we have no striker and Issah has left for abroad and we have no striker and I tell them every time”, murmured Martin Koopman. “We missed a striker”, he added.
The 67-year-old former Al Nasr gaffer after the 0-0 draw at home against Dreams FC on matchday 4 bemoaned the lack of quality strikers at his disposal for the season.
Kashala Ramos in that game was substituted and when the coach was asked if he was good, he said, ‘No’. ‘He was not good at playing and the next one going in is Hamza Issah. A young player with a lot of talent and he fights so Hamza Issah is the next option and that is the reason”, he summed up.
Hamza Issah equalised in the 40th minute for Hearts of Oak at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium after Emmanuel Owusu Boakye put Karela United in front in the 6th minute. He was unmarked and headed the ball to an empty net from Salifu Ibrahim’s corner kick, the game ended 1-1.
The Auroras graduate has been scoring for fun. Four goals in his last three games for Hearts of Oak, has he finally filled Hearts of Oak’s scoring profligacy?
Kwadwo Obeng Junior, Isaac Mensah, Hamzah Issah, Albert Eonde, Ramos Kashala Wanet and Kassim Cisse are the forwards Hearts of Oak has registered for the season. Hearts of Oak has scored 5 goals in 8 matches. Just two among these six centre-forwards have scored for Phobia.
Kashala Ramos scored the only goal vs Nsoatreman and all the other four have been scored by Hamzah Issah. This is simply better than fantastic. The 20-year-old is a natural goalscorer but raw, inexperienced and not yet the finished article but can lead Hearts of Oak for years to come if only they will be patient with him.
Blessed with pace and power, the youngster will be a nightmare to defenders as he demonstrated in their game against Medeama when he forcefully won the ball against Medeama centre-back Kofi Asmah.
Club legend Benard Don Bortey has promised Phobia fans that Hamza Issah will surpass the legendary Ismael Addo.
Martin Koopman has also likened him to one of Brazil’s all-time best players.
Hamzah Issah is the revelation of the 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League season and has the potential to be a great goal scorer.
