Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, a Board Member of Hearts of Oak, has strongly criticized the dismissed coach, Martin Koopman, characterizing him as bitter and frustrated after his abrupt departure from the club.
Koopman, a 67-year-old Dutch coach, faced termination just four months into his tenure and alleged that the Board Members dictated specific players he shouldn’t field. According to Koopman, the initial list comprised three players but later expanded to seven (Annan, Korsah, Esso, Albert Eonde, Salifu, Seidu, and Attah), claiming the board lacked faith in them.
Disputing Koopman’s assertions, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe refuted any board interference in player selection, citing records that indicated Koopman had utilized all players except two who were sidelined due to injuries.
“When they [Koopman and Rene Hiddink] came, we decided to allow them to work without any interference. Out of the players that he mentioned, apart from two boys who were injured and could not play at all, he used every one of the players he mentioned,” Nyaho-Tamakloe clarified.
Accusing Koopman of peddling falsehoods due to bitterness over his dismissal, Nyaho-Tamakloe emphasized the coach’s responsibility for the team’s performance and criticized his reluctance to replace underperforming players.
“He is immature, frustrated and bitter, he is a complete liar because of all the names he mentioned one can check from the Ghana Football Association or even our records to see whether they have not been featured since he came,” remarked Nyaho-Tamakloe.
Expressing surprise at Koopman’s complaint about lacking good wingers and attackers, Nyaho-Tamakloe emphasized that if a coach identified weaknesses, the appropriate course of action was to train and improve the players rather than complain.
In response to Koopman’s accusation of interference, Nyaho-Tamakloe highlighted that the coach and his technical director had ignored suggestions from the club’s top hierarchy. He attributed Koopman’s finger-pointing to frustration and immaturity.
“He is immature, frustrated and bitter… he must take the blame for his failure and not attempt to draw the board into it,” asserted Nyaho-Tamakloe.
