Kenichi v Sergio: Which manager rates higher?

Accra Hearts of Oak started the 2015/16 season as a club in transition, having being threatened with relegation the previous season.

Then came the appointment of Japanese-American trainer, Kenichi Yatsuashi, whose competence many questioned.

After media investigations revealed he was a college coach, his first major assignment in a managerial position, being his appointment to head the technical team of, as well as, provide direction for one of Ghana’s biggest clubs, had many calling the sanity of Togbe Afede’s administration into question.

The team’s pre-season preparation under him was woeful as they were thrashed 4-0 by Libyan side, Al Ahli of Tripoli on Dec 16, 2015, the first of series of poor pre-season results.

But things drastically changed upon commencement of the 2015/16 season. Kenichi’s charges got off to a flying start, following which they maintained their rhythm. Only then, did initial critics of Hearts’ Japo import begin to believe in the ‘Keni Project’.

Before the commencement of the 2015/16 GPL, Kenichi replied in a presser, when a question on his team’s potency was posed to him, that; “judge my team when the season starts”. Per their performance, Hearts were at a point declared run-away leaders by pundits and spectators until their flight was halted by Wa All Stars who defeated them by 3-goals to one at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Under the Japo, Hearts recorded their best start to a league season in eight years; they recorded four wins and a draw in their opening five fixtures. Keni’s team had a fighting spirit which enabled it to end games on a high, and boasted the best away record; no defeat in its opening five games.

That good form, coupled with his near-perfect relationship with the club’s supporters, did not only make him a fan-favourite, but also lured the Japanese community in Ghana into patronising Hearts’ games. Consequently, Hearts made some good returns from gate proceeds and appeared to be on course to end their eight-year trophy drought.

However, Hearts’ management, in a bizarre move, decided to part ways with the tough-talking and effective Japo, who in an interview, claimed to have informed the club’s board of a planned coaching course scheduled for May he wanted to pursue.

Keni’s record stands at 40% Win rate, 20% Lose rate and 33.33% Draw6 rate.
His first 15 premier league games produced the following results:

Hearts 1-0 New Edubiase
Medeama 0-2 Hearts
Dwarfs 0-0 Hearts
Hearts 3-1 Bechem United
Inter Allies 2-3 Hearts
Hearts 1-3 Wa All Stars
Techiman City 0-0 Hearts
Hearts 1-1 Wafa
Ashantigold 1-2 Hearts
Hearts 0-1 Kotoko
Berekum Chelsea 0-1 Hearts
Hearts 1-0 Hasaacas
Aduana stars 1-1 Hearts
Hearts 0-1 Liberty Professionals
Dreams FC 1-1 Hearts

Post-Kenichi
Hearts of Oak officially unveiled Portuguese trainer, Sergio Traguil as its interim head coach after ‘mutually’ agreeing to part ways with his predecessor, Kenichi Yatsuashi.

The Portuguese took over Hearts’ managerial role with just a week to the commencement of the second round and, knowing the fan-favourite, Kenichi, was gone, he had a daunting task of winning their [supporters’] love while retaining the team’s good start to the season despite ending the first round in 4th place, a point adrift of leaders, Wa All Stars.

The Portuguese, nicknamed Port-Alegre Mourinho’s record as Hearts’ head coach after eleven competitive GPL games and with just four games to the end of the league, stands at; 27.3% win rate, 45.45% draw percentage and a 9.09% loss rate.


Hearts of Oak’s performance in this second round of the league;

??Hearts? 1-0 Dreams
??Liberty? 1-1 Hearts
Hearts 1-0 B. Chelsea
??kotoko? 1-1 Hearts
Hearts 0-0 Aduana
??Hasaacas? 0-1 Hearts
Hearts 1-1Ashgold
??WAFA? 3-0 Hearts
Hearts 1-1 TCFC
??All? stars 1-1 Hearts
Hearts 1-1 Allies

Has Hearts lost a gem in Keni or signed a tactical masterpiece in Traguil?