Ending the drought: How Samuel Boadu rebuilt Hearts of Oak

In February 2020, a long-suffering Hearts of Oak fan made a passionate appeal to meet the squad. When his wish was eventually granted, he used the moment to deliver a short prophecy.

Surrounded by players of his beloved Hearts, 68-year-old Ataa Abbey – confined to a wheelchair – told them they would win the Ghana Premier League. “God has ordained it,” he added.

The how and when remained a mystery. Suffice to say that campaign came to an abrupt end due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The seasons before had seen the Phobians suffer heartbreak after heartbreak, culminating in a decade-long trophy drought.