If there had been doubts about the capacity of Accra Hearts of Oak to construct a facility in the make of the artist impressions seen on their Pobiman Project, those doubts are being dispelled. Evidence of work at the site points to a steady realisation of their ambition. Soon, the Phobians will join the small list of enviable football clubs in Ghana, who boasts of modern training and camping facilities – topmost of which – without question, is the West African Football Academy (WAFA).
Pictures online coupled with my interaction with Hearts officials confirm that, a good work has been underway in the last one month. Local contractors are currently laying the foundation for hostel facilities that will house the club’s u-15, u-17 and u-20 teams. Players of these teams will permanently be at Pobiman. These players will be nurtured not alone to take over from senior team players but also be sent abroad to live their dream of playing in Europe besides generating revenue for the club.
There will as well be apartments for senior team players, offices for the Director of Football, Technical Director, House Master, to oversee the activities of players. Other technical team members will also have offices. Additionally, there will be administrative offices – for the Chief Executive Officer, Communications Manager and the likes. A clinic, gymnasium, restaurant form part of the facility. Players will have a good feel of other sporting disciplines besides football; tennis, basketball, volley ball courts and swimming pools are part of the project. A quarter of the land is being used for all these.
Thus, the good news is, there will be enough space for expansion or other projects in future. Local contractors have 90 days to complete their work. By the 90 days, pre-fabricated materials will arrive from Turkey. It is the expectation of engineers that, installation of the pre-fabricated materials will take four months to complete. Communications Manager of Hearts of Oak, Kwame Opare-Addo discusses the massive facelift and other benefits they stand to gain.
“With this infrastructure, we will save money and be able to nurture players better. Player development is key. Our young talents will attract the best clubs if are nurtured well” he says as he adds that, Board Chairman of the club, Togbe Afede XIV wants to leave a great legacy. Opare-Addo further says, a completed Pobiman, collectively, will enhance the image of our club football in Ghana. It will be one bright spot in the area of clubs with useful infrastructure on our football landscape, he adds. I, agree, with him.