Olympics mourn with Hearts

Accra, June 10, GNA - Relegated Accra Great Olympics has sent a message of condolence to city rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak on the sudden death of coach Emmanuel Ofei Ansah who passed away at the Ridge Hospital in Accra on Wednesday. A statement signed by Mr. Eric Afotey Odai, the Club's Chairman copied to the GNA Sports said, "we stand with you as colleagues with common objectives to mourn and share the grief in your eyes". Olympics reckoned the difficulties the Phobians would encounter in the wake of the sudden departure to eternity of the former national star and coach and encouraged Hearts to stay strong in the present circumstances.

Coach Ansah died in the early hours of Wednesday only nine hours after guiding Hearts to the top of the league table for the first time this season with a 1-0 win over Liberty Professionals at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra on Tuesday. The coach was reported to have visited the hospital ahead of the epic match with a cardio related illness but managed to join the team's bench to guide his side to victory.

The ex-Black Stars cum Hearts player who joined the technical handlers of the team in 1996 after 13 years of a football career with the team took over the reigns of Hearts in a caretaker capacity from Archibald Lamptey, after the first game of the season. Ofei Ansah's playing career started in 1973 with Hearts after a stint with the club's nursery team, Auroras. He also partnered former head coach, Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio to conquer Africa in the Champions League in 2000 and the Super Cup in the same year.