Hearts New coach upbeat about job
Newly appointed coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Kenichi Yatsuhatsi, has described himself as “the ever-changing one” as he was unveiled last Wednesday at the club’s Secretariat in Accra.
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Promising to restore the Phobians to glory, the 46-year-old Japanese whose alleged poor credentials have come under scrutiny from the media, as well as fans, admitted that the Hearts’ job was the biggest of his career, vowing to repay the faith reposed in him by winning silverware for the club.
He vowed to delight the club’s fans by quickly adapting to Ghanaian football and completing the league and FA Cup double in his first season.
Coach Yatsuhatsi, who has yet to take charge of his first training session, also promised to conquer Africa with the team that finished 13th out of 16 clubs in last season’s league.
“Let’s look at my history, I was born in Japan and I went to Brazil to play when I was 17, I was there two and a half (years),” Yatsuhashi, who has signed a two-year deal with the Phobians, said..
“Then, I went to the United States, first to study at the University later to coach, I was there two to three years.
“I went to Japan and got a job at the Japanese Football Association which they sent me to Central Asia for three years where I coached the Under-16 national team.
“Then, I went to the Aspire Academy in Qatar for one year now I am here. So, I am the ever-changing one who never changes. I keep changing, I keep adjusting to find the best way to get the message to the players.
Yatsuhashi also addressed questions surrounding his lack of a recognised coaching license, disclosing that he was in the process of completing an Asian Football Confederation Professional Coaching Diploma which is considered as an equivalent to the UEFA Pro Licence.
He also defended the quality of college football in the United States of America as compared to other countries noting that several high-quality American national team players had come through that system.
“There is a big misunderstanding that I have been a long-time college coach in the United States. In many countries college game is very weak.
“I think in Ghana as well college football is not strong but in the United States it is extremely competitive. For example, former US national team captain, Claudio Reyna, played three years college soccer at the University of Virginia before he went to play in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen, later on he moved on to Rangers in Scotland and Manchester City in England. It is a competitive and highly respected job and I was there for nine years.”
He also stated that he was hoping to follow in the trend of youth coaches who had made a successful transition to coaching senior teams.