Hearts of Oak Coach: 'Agbasi would have played all FA Cup games'

Hearts of Oak head coach Didi Dramani has explained that his decision to start second-choice goalkeeper Solomon Agbasi in a recent league match was part of a broader plan to give the goalkeeper meaningful game time and build strong competition within the squad.

Agbasi started ahead of regular keeper Benjamin Asare against Bechem United, delivering a clean-sheet performance that justified the coach's selection. After the match, Dramani revealed that he would have used Agbasi consistently in a different tournament format.

"The reason is just to deload and then also to give Solomon game minutes," Dramani said. "If we were in the FA Cup, then Solomon would have been playing in the FA Cup games."

The coach emphasized that the rotation was a strategic move to maintain high performance levels and foster internal competition. "But there’s a need for you to deload Benjamin after three, four games, then you deload him so that you can build a very strong culture within our [goalkeeping department]," he added.

The victory pushed Hearts of Oak to 36 points in the Ghana Premier League, moving them above rivals Asante Kotoko. Dramani's comments highlight his focus on squad management and creating a competitive environment, ensuring both his goalkeepers remain sharp and motivated for the challenges ahead.