Frank Nelson on Kenichi, Sergio Tragui and the President Cup

With a grin, he shook hands in readiness to open up. His consistent smiles even before the first question is placed before him clearly states he anticipated what we want to know.

On Monday evening Kenichi Yatsushashi relationship with Hearts of Oak became history. A Portuguese coach, who came into the country last week, was tipped to replace the Japanese-American trainer.

But the hierarchy of the Phobians continue to be adamant that the "New Mourinho" will not succeed Kenichi.

Interestingly, Sergio Daniel Traguil led team's training session on Wednesday, and Pulse.com.gh continue to probe. In the course of the interview, Frank Nelson contradicted quotes head of the Strategy Committee Chairman, Vincent Sowah Odotei told Pulse.

Muftawu: It is the President's Cup, but games between Hearts and Kotoko go beyond the name of the competition. Is it redemption game for Hearts on July 1 having lost the premier league match in May?

Frank Nelson: For me, games between Hearts and Kotoko is business as usual because there are so many things at stake. You used the right word redemption; It is an opportunity for us to prove that we played better [on May 2 ] and we can play better. It is an opportunity for us to entertain our supporters and everybody who will come to the stadium. But at the end of the day, i will say it is just a match that is a normal game that has to be played in a friendly atmosphere regardless of who wins, but for us, of course we want to beat them because I know whenever there is trophy, Kotoko cannot match us.

Now that there is a trophy we are sure that they have already lost the match. I am sure they will concentrate on the league and we will play on the league but this match come on the 1st of July, the trophy will be in the Secretariat of Hearts of Hearts of Oak, there is no two ways about that.

Muftawu: Hearts fans have come to understand a certain style of football they've termed 'sushi' football. That will not be available on the day of the President's Cup and other subsequent matches. How will that have an impact of the team?

Frank Nelson: Well that's a very big question and I am sure you asked the question because of the coach who we just parted ways mutually, Kenichi. It is unfortunate that things had to happen the way it happened. We were not expecting something like this to happen at this particular period. It has happened and we just have to move forward, we don't have to think about yesterday, we have to think about tomorrow. Fans, media and public are used to him. A lot of people know that Kenichi is coming to the stadium so they want to come and watch him but unfortunately, this is what life has given us. Sometimes what you expect do not come the way you want it.

We have parted ways with him but i believe that the boys have learnt that the most important thing is to give the supporters good football. As long as they give the supporters football and good results, I believe that Kenichi's memory will come to pass. But I must add that it is something that Accra Hearts of Oak did not envisage or anticipate at the time he came because we thought that we were going for the second round but unfortunately Coach Kenichi throw the sponge and it has to catch us below the bed.

As managers we have to stay focus and make sure that the boys in camp are players that are used to him, but at the end of the day we have to psych them up and get them to understand that's football. Coaches come and go, but club the will stay so they should focus on the club and make sure that they give their best.

Who knows the next person might be even be better than what they have been experiencing so let's look forward to the future and see what the future holds for us. But i believe Hearts of Oak have a bright future.

Muftawu: You signed a new Coach on Tuesday to lead your junior teams, do you think your coaches were not enough to handle that?

Nelson: I don't think we have any serious problem in terms of coaching, but in terms introducing a new coach into the team, we have a Portuguese coach who is in town, he is in to handle the two junior teams that's the Oak Royal and Auroras. But in case we fall short, and we feel that we need his expertise there is nothing stopping us from asking him to support the senior team. A coach for the senior team will be named in the shortest possible time.

Me: Was the Portuguese coach signed to replace Kenichi?

Nelson: I don't think so. Not even that I don't think so; I know his contract does not indicate that, I know why he came into the country. We have always emphasised about the youth development and we think that it is one of the key issues we have. Moneys have been spending in recruitment of players and it has not benefited the club. So w have taken the reverse decision that we are going back to what we used to know that gave us people like Shamo Quayes, Bossman and Ishmael Addos because they were all from Auroras. So many boys came out from there that we think that is something we've been overlooking that's basically why we brought somebody who has the experience in terms of youth and that's Sergio Daniel. But I like said, he has the experience and if there is any insufficiencies in the senior team, there is nothing stopping him from doing that because he is a coach of Accra Hearts of Oak.

Muftawu: The club introduced Sergio to the players and he immediately led training, is he Kenichi's successor?

Nelson: Well, I will not be able to answer that not because I do not want to answer that but because there are certain issues that might not be for the consumption of the public, but you saw him at the training ground, but like I said earlier, he is a technical person and if our team is training and he is supposed to take charge of the junior teams, he has all it takes to support Yaw Preko at the senior side, that's a welcome ides for us.

Muftawu: Will he be on bench on Sunday for the game against Dreams FC?

Nelson: I cannot be able to tell you that it is possible or it is not possible because at the end of the day, there are procedures we must follow, there are certain issues we need resolve. Yes, he is our coach, we brought him into this country, we have signed him as our contracted coach so we will use him as when necessary, but maybe on Sunday, I cannot guarantee you that he will be on bench to support. Yaw Preko is there and I can say he's got more experience and will be able to do the job and make all of us happy.

Muftawu: From what you're saying, Yaw Preko is the interim coach until a substantive replacement is found. But I just spoke to Vincent Sowah Odotei and he says Sergio is the interim coach. Isn't that contradicting?

Nelson: Yaw Preko works with the national and that's not a hidden secret. Everyone knows that he is with the national U-20 team and we all know that on the 8th July, he will be embarking to Senegal with the Black Satellites and that's a weekend, and definitely there will be a [league] match, and if there is match, who takes care of Accra Hearts of Oak whilst he is away with the national team.

So the best thing for us is to introduce the Portuguese coach for him to start getting used with the boys so that when Yaw Preko is not there, we are not short of staff. So I don't think is anything wrong with that. I think that is a good plan for us. We are doing to make sure that we position our club in a way we think that it will be comfortable for our supporters and for the people who has invested in the club.

The coach you saw have enough experience, he was brought in for our youth development system, but considering the situation that arose because of Yaw Preko's position in the national team, we might see him with the senior team.

Muftawu: If Yaw Preko's assignment with the national team is in July, why did Sergio Daniel lead the training session when he could have rather assisted Yaw until he joins the Satellites in Camp?

Nelson: Well, It is very simple issue: One is acquaintance. It is not that he [Sergio Daniel] led the training. Yaw Preko was at the training and he indirectly led the training but it was for Sergio to get use to the boys so we just gave him the opportunity to get used to the boys.

Muftawu: Finally, what should we expect from Hearts in the second round?

Nelson: I know for second round I will take it from last season. Everybody saw how Hearts struggled to get away from the pit, but eventually, we got out of it. This year I think we will kick off good enough. I believe it is going to be hot chase for everybody ahead of us. We are not going to bend down our heads, we are going to make sure that we stay focus, we are going to maintain the stability that we had in the first round regardless of the fact that the coach who was in charge of the first round is not there anymore. But it's the same management, the same players... will psych the boys and let them understand that this club has not won any major trophy since 2009, and we will need to prove that we have what it takes to be at the top.