Hearts of Oak turn focus to Dreams FC after first defeat

Hearts of Oak coach Nebojsa Kapor has told his players to quickly move on from their first defeat of the Ghana Premier League season as they prepare for an away meeting with Dreams FC.

The Phobians suffered their first setback of the campaign on Saturday when Mohammed Zaidan scored in the 88th minute to give Karela United a 1-0 victory at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium.

The result brought an end to Hearts’ unbeaten opening to the season, but Kapor has already shifted his attention towards the next fixture and the challenge posed by Dreams.

The Hearts coach knows his side face another difficult away match and wants his players to respond immediately rather than dwell on the defeat.

“We have to forget this fast and continue preparation for the next steps because we are facing another away game, which will also be difficult against Dreams, and we have to concentrate on this game,” Kapor said.

Kapor wants Hearts to learn from defeat

Although the result ended Hearts’ unbeaten run, Kapor believes there are lessons for his players to take from the match in Tamale.

The coach identified his team’s handling of Karela’s long balls and second balls as areas that need attention.

Hearts struggled to deal with those aspects of Karela’s approach and eventually conceded late in the game, leaving them without a point from the encounter.

Kapor will now look for solutions during preparations for Dreams FC as he attempts to ensure the defeat does not affect the team’s progress.

Absences add to Hearts’ challenge

The Hearts coach also had to manage the absence of several key players during the trip to Tamale.

Among those unavailable was captain Benjamin Asare, who is currently away with the Black Stars.

His absence was another factor Kapor had to deal with as his team attempted to maintain its unbeaten record.

The Phobians had made a strong start to the league campaign before the defeat, collecting two wins and a draw from their opening three matches.

That run had given Hearts an unbeaten beginning to the season, but Zaidan’s late goal changed the outcome against Karela.

Dreams FC provide immediate test

There will be little time for Hearts to dwell on the result because their next assignment will also be away from home.

Dreams FC are now the next opponents, giving Kapor and his players an immediate opportunity to respond to their first setback.

The Hearts coach’s message is to put the Karela result behind them and concentrate fully on the next match.

The focus of preparations will therefore be on correcting the problems exposed in Tamale while restoring the momentum generated during the opening three matches.

Hearts seek return to winning ways

Hearts started the campaign with two victories and a draw before suffering their first defeat against Karela United.

Kapor will now want his players to use the experience from Saturday’s match without allowing it to disrupt their progress.

The coach has already made clear that the priority is preparation for Dreams, with the next away fixture presenting another test for his squad.

The Phobians must regroup quickly after conceding so late against Karela and turn their attention towards finding a way to return to winning ways.

For Kapor, the message is straightforward: the first defeat must be put aside quickly, the lessons from the match must be taken on board, and preparations for Dreams FC must become the immediate priority.

With another away game ahead, Hearts will look to respond to their first setback of the season and rebuild the momentum they established during the opening weeks of the campaign.