Hearts of Oak head coach Nebojsa Kapor has warned his players against complacency as they prepare to host Basake Holy Stars in Friday’s Ghana Premier League matchday eight encounter at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon.
The Phobians head into the 5:00 pm fixture buoyed by their crucial away victory over Vision FC last weekend, a result that lifted them to 14 points and level with league leaders Medeama SC and FC Samartex.
Despite the positive momentum, Kapor insists his players must raise their performance levels against Basake Holy Stars, stressing that the victory over Vision FC should not distract them from the challenge ahead.
“We cannot relax after this. As I told many times, we finished this job well against Vision, but the next step for us now is the most important. We have to face this game with a far better mentality than we faced the game against Vision, and we have to continue our path.”
Nebojsa Kapor, Hearts of Oak head coach
Fixture History Offers Warning for Hearts
Friday’s encounter presents a difficult challenge for Hearts, with the previous meetings between the two clubs suggesting that home advantage has offered no guarantee of success.
In their four meetings since Basake Holy Stars secured promotion to the Ghana Premier League two years ago, both sides have recorded one victory each, while the other two encounters ended in draws.
Neither team has managed to win this fixture on home soil, a record that presents an additional challenge for Hearts as they seek to protect their unbeaten home run this season.
The Phobians have been particularly impressive defensively at the University of Ghana Stadium, keeping three consecutive home clean sheets in the league.
Basake Holy Stars, meanwhile, have struggled away from home, losing all three of their fixtures on the road this season while scoring just once and conceding seven goals.
Although those statistics favour the hosts, the previous meetings between the sides suggest Hearts cannot afford to underestimate their opponents.
A victory on Friday would take Hearts to the summit of the league table, at least temporarily, ahead of Sunday’s fixtures when Medeama SC and FC Samartex play their respective games.
All three teams are currently tied on 14 points, making the encounter important in the early race for the top position.
Kapor Demands Improved Mentality
Kapor acknowledged that Hearts did not deliver a perfect performance against Vision FC but praised the determination and concentration that helped his side secure all three points in a difficult encounter.
The Serbian tactician explained that Vision’s defensive organisation and the intensity of their young players made the contest challenging, forcing Hearts to rely on their mentality and character to find a breakthrough.
He believes the team’s ability to remain focused under pressure was decisive in securing the victory, although he expects further improvement ahead of Friday’s assignment. “A lot of games, not only in football, in sport, you will win with a serious mindset, serious character and our mindset, our good character, our believing during the game created a good situation for us in the last minutes,” the Hearts coach noted.
With Hearts now sharing the same points tally as Medeama and Samartex, Kapor is keen to maintain the club’s upward trajectory but has warned against underestimating their next opponents.
Basake Holy Stars have collected positive results in recent home matches, and the Hearts coach expects another demanding test despite the contrasting fortunes of both sides on the road.
“We are approaching them as a very strong opponent. We are not going to think this game will be an easy game, never. Every game here is very difficult, especially from the mentality side. We have to face this game very tough.”
Nebojsa Kapor, Hearts of Oak head coach
Fixture Change Presents Preparation Challenge
Kapor also disclosed that the late rescheduling of the fixture from Sunday to Friday has slightly shortened his team’s preparation period.
The Phobians had initially expected to play at the weekend but received notification of the change on the eve of their preparations, leaving the technical team with limited time to make the necessary tactical adjustments.
However, the coach believes the remaining training sessions will be sufficient to prepare his players for the encounter.
“We have other sessions. A little surprise came because we expected this game will be on Sunday, but we got information that they are moving this game on Friday. That is making a little short time for us, but also enough for tactical sessions, and I’m sure we will prepare this game nice and we will really set up a serious performance.”
Nebojsa Kapor, Hearts of Oak head coach
Kapor further stressed that continuous improvement remains essential, insisting that both the technical team and the players must regularly assess their performances to identify areas requiring attention.
He maintained that failure to improve consistently could undermine the team’s progress, adding that his side would review its previous display and provide players with specific instructions ahead of the clash.
Injury Situation Improves Ahead of Clash
On team news, the Serbian offered an encouraging update on Hearts’ injury situation, revealing that several players who had missed recent matches had returned to training.
Dominic Nsobila remains a doubt for Friday’s game and may not be available for selection, while John Antwi and Martin Kakari are making progress in their recovery.
Also, Hussein Mohammed has also improved and could be included in the squad, depending on his readiness and performance in training. Alex Banso has resumed his rehabilitation programme and training activities but is unlikely to feature against Basake Holy Stars.
The coach expressed optimism that the improved availability of players would give Hearts a stronger position heading into the match.
Kapor Calls on Supporters
Meanwhile, Kapor has called on the club’s supporters to turn out in numbers at the University of Ghana Stadium, describing their backing as an important factor in the team’s performances.
“With them we are stronger and they are our 12th players,” said the coach, urging the fans to unite behind the team and help them deliver another strong performance.
Hearts will be hoping to make their home advantage count on Friday and extend their winning run to three consecutive matches, but Kapor’s message remains clear that the victory over Vision FC must serve as a foundation for further progress rather than a reason for complacency.
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