Hearts Of Oak Reveal Why Coach Vaz Pinto Left For Portugal

Ghana Premier League giants Accra Hearts of Oak have revealed that coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto had to leave for Portugal in order to be near his son and wife who are both ailing.

The Phobians did not divulge how long Vaz Pinto will be away after having just spent eight days in Ghana since his appointment, but the club Chief Executive Officer Frederick Moore says ‘the gaffer will be back soon.’

Vaz Pinto hastily departed for Lisbon on Saturday with local media reports suggesting that he has had a disagreement with the board of directors over who serves as his assistant.

The former St. George of Ethiopia trainer is said to have recommended club legends Amankwah Mireku and Lawrence Adjah-Tetteh but the board kicked against it.

“It’s true the coach has gone back but a lot of what is going around on social media isn’t completely true,” Moore said on Kumasi FM as quoted by Goal.

“He’s gone back for a variety of reasons; the son and wife have contracted COVID-19 and he’s gone to see them, I’ve even had a chat with him this evening.

“I do not want to concentrate on Carlos Vaz Pinto. Any supporter’s priority should be for us to win and not who’s in charge of the team.

“Pinto did not leave on bad terms and if everything goes on well he could come back but we are building an academy and needs a director of football and cannot wait if he’s not back in five or six weeks time. Hearts of Oak is bigger than an individual and Pinto himself knows that.

“The noise of which coach leads the team isn’t helpful to the boys, they need to concentrate and win.”

Pinto last handled the FC Famalicão U-23 from September 2019 to June 2020 playing 26 matches, winning just 4, losing 11 and drawing 11.

Hearts of Oak are still in search of the Ghana Premier League after winning it in the 2008/2009 season which is 11 years ago.

They will start the 2020/2021 Ghana Premier League campaign with a clash against Aduana Stars on November 14 at Agyeman Badu Stadium in Dormaa Ahenkro.