Awako Opens Up About Captaincy Challenges at Hearts of Oak

Former Hearts of Oak midfielder Gladson Awako has shed light on the circumstances surrounding his tenure as captain during the leadership of coach Slavko Matic.

Gladson Awako joined Hearts of Oak in 2021 and left the club in September 2023 winning the league title and two FA Cup trophies. He was also made the captain during the tenure of Slavko Matic.

In an interview, Awako who currently plays for Great Olympics revealed that while he thrived under Matic’s management and earned significant playing time, his appointment as captain sparked discontent among some individuals within the club.

“When coach Matic came to Hearts of Oak, I didn’t know him personally, but he saw something in me,” Awako said. “He gave me a lot of playing time, and I was really enjoying it. The response from the club and fans was positive, but some people weren’t happy about it.” He told Asempa FM.

The experienced midfielder explained that his leadership role became a point of contention.

“They questioned the coach about why he made me the captain,” Awako shared. “It seemed like my appointment didn’t sit well with certain individuals, even though I was focused on giving my best for the team.” He added.