By Abel Kwame Asiedu Appau, Ghana Institute Of Journalism
It is a norm for sports teams which include football teams to wear a team jersey which has numbers written on them. In the game of football, these numbers are written at the back of a jersey and front side of a short.
The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) which is the governing body for football in Article 7.1 of the Equipment Regulations states emphatically that:
A player’s number must appear on the back of the player’s shirt and on the player’s short in all competitions (other than FIFA eFootball Competitions) and international friendly matches… In addition, other competition regulations may require or permit the player’s number on the front of the player’s shirt…
These numbers are used to identify a player from another. In some situations and circumstances, players have to stay to whatever is being handed over to them. The number 35 is gradually warming its way through the warm and thick hearts of the royal fans of the mighty oak club, Accra Hearts of Oak
A transfer deadline steal saw a new name get all brimming with some newly found verve especially as the moments prior had fans painfully putting up with a largely stale midfield. Emmanuel Nettey! A 35-shirted respite emitting poise in a fresh look midfield that had Frederick Ansah Botchway and Benjamin Afutu Kortey.
He walked into the team with his bright past with Inter Allies going ahead of him and instantly put in colossal performances in the biggest game on the league calendar at home as well as against Liberty and Dreams on the road to ensure his name’s cemented in the hearts and minds who many who followed his impressive showings. He proved to be a great part of the solution to the team’s dire issues at the time. Hearts of Oak needed saving and he came through and oh, a great guy off the field too. The former Inter Allies midfielder gifted a replica of the latest Umbro kit to a disabled fan who went viral for displaying the flag of the Phobians in a wheelchair on his way to watch the Super clash against archrivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko. Emmanuel Nartey popularly Romeo eventually won the treble which includes the Ghana Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Super Cup for Accra Hearts of Oak under the guidance of coach Samuel Boadu.
He became a poster boy for the oak club in the number 35 shirt and a fan’s favorite. Emmanuel Nartey switched to don the number 10 jersey which was vacant after the exit of Joseph Esso.
The 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season is one to forget as far as the Hearts of Oak fraternity is concerned. Nonetheless, that gloom was not going to be without a spark of silver. This was an 18-year-old fresh water sailor who had joined a fold that had just lost their gold in midfield. The acquisition of teen Salim Adams hence stirred a chat among fans; while one divide relished the move, the pained other couldn’t hide their pessimism This uncertainty and the weight of the prevailing demand in the Hearts of Oak midfield was however never going to beat the kid down. All he needed was about 10 minutes to leave some indelible mark: the screamer on his Hearts of Oak and CAF Champions League debut. He’ll go on to prove a saving grace in yet another stale midfield, going on to earn a transfer to the club’s Major League Soccer partners, Cincinnati FC even before the season’s end , the first beneficiary of the Continental Club Alliance agreement which includes TSG Hoffenheim.
Guess you already know who dons the 35 shirt at Phobia now? Eric Esso walked out of the tunnel in Jersey number 35, a shirt that’s been at the center of fans excitement in recent times, especially in proving resourceful to the Hearts of Oak midfield d in trying times.Esso is a familiar name with Accra Hearts of Oak in recent years. Eric Esso’s brother, Joseph Esso once donned the rainbow colours. Eric Esso joined the oak tree club with after a successful stint with embattled Obuasi Ashanti Gold where he made his name. Esso became part of solid midfield that had Appiah McCarthy and Stephen Nkrumah who tormented and torn teams apart.
His ability to safeguard his defense and the urge to surge forward as well his incisive passes is an added value to his new side.An additional quality he possesses is ability to score goals from free kicks and shots from long range. He’s already proven to be an enormous presence and quality in midfield during the preseason. Eric Esso at the moment remains the only trusted defensive midfielder in Accra Hearts of Oak. Having already shown glimpses of what he is capable of doing in the games against Aduana Stars, Accra Great Olympics and Asante Kotoko. It remains the hope of all that form and promise he gave-off is translated into a saving grace for Hearts in the betPawa Ghana Premier League.
