Hearts of Oak rewarded each player $100,000 after 2000 Champions League triumph - Harry Zakour

Former Hearts of Oak Chief Executive Officer Harry Zakour has rejected claims that players were not properly rewarded after the club won the CAF Champions League in 2000.

Some members of the historic squad have previously claimed they were not adequately compensated for helping the Phobians secure their first continental title.

However, Zakour has disputed those claims, insisting the players received substantial financial rewards following their triumph.

Speaking on Sporty FM, Zakour said Hearts of Oak received $3 million after winning the competition and that the money was shared among key officials and the players.

He revealed that each of the 18 players in the successful squad received $100,000.

“It’s not true [that the players were not compensated for winning the trophy]. You can even invite that to our Ato Ahwoi. We gave them $100,000 each,” Zakour said.

According to Zakour, the club missed out on participating in the FIFA Club World Championship despite qualifying as African champions, but the financial return from their continental success was still significant.

“We couldn’t go to the Club World Cup, but we got $3 million. Myself, Ato and Nii Ayi Bonte shared the money, and we gave each player $100,000,” he added.

Zakour insisted that all 18 players who contributed to the campaign received the same amount, with no discrimination in the distribution.

He also stressed that $100,000 was a considerable sum at the time, claiming some players used their earnings to invest in property.

“You know that time, what is $100,000? It was a lot of money those days. Some of them bought properties,” he said.

Hearts of Oak defeated Tunisian giants Esperance in the 2000 final to win their first CAF Champions League title, becoming the first Ghanaian club to lift the competition under its modern format.

The Accra-based club went on to beat Zamalek in the 2001 CAF Super Cup, adding another major continental trophy to their collection.

Hearts later won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2005, further cementing their status as one of Ghana’s most successful clubs in African football.