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All you need to know about Asante Kotoko and Heats of Oak rivalry

Both clubs are the most successful teams in Ghana , between them they have won sixty-two major trophies.

Both clubs are the most successful teams in Ghana , between them they have won ninty-seven (97) trophies.

FOOTBALL RIVALRY

The Asante Kotoko-Hearts of Oak football rivalry started in 1958, when Kotoko lost 3-4 to Hearts at Kumasi but the match was abandoned and ordered for a replay. In the replay, Hearts wallop Kotoko 5-2 at Kumasi- the biggest win in Hearts’ history in Kumasi . Kotoko turned things around and defeated Hearts 4-2 in the return encounter in Accra .

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Both clubs claim the title of the Greatest Ghanaian club, with Kotoko winning 51 trophies, whilst Hearts have 46.

Kotoko dominated Ghanaian football during the 1960s and 1980s, claiming the league title eleven times and the African Cup on two occasions during that period. Hearts have been the most successful Ghanaian team of the 1970s and 2000s, winning ten league titles and three African titles.

Both clubs have won the TOP 4 trophy twice, but it is not recognized as a major trophy.

In 2001, a match between Hearts and Kotoko in Accra resulted in the worst related disaster in African history, when 127 people died as a result of stampede which broke down after clashes between Supporters and Police. Hearts eventually won the match 2-1 through two-goal hero Ishmael Addo after Lawrence Adjei put Kotoko ahead.

In the return leg match in Kumasi, Kotoko defeated Hearts 2-0, courtesy of strikes from Steven Oduro and Joe Okyere. Hearts scored in that match but the goal was disallowed.

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TROPHIES

TOTAL

Kotoko have won 51 trophies, Hearts will vaunt of 46.

PLAYER TRANSFER

The rivalry between the two clubs has become so intense that no club wanted to transfer its player to the other. However, most players having played elsewhere between each tenure; such as Douglas Nkrumah, Louis Agyemang, Agyemang Duah, Lawrence Adjei, Kwaku Essien, Awudu Adama etc. A player can move from Kotoko to Hearts or vice versa when his service is not needed by either club. You can count on players like Saanie Mohammed, Godwin Ablordey, Michael Asante, Emmanuel Yartey, etc.

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In 2003, there was a controversy surrounding the transfer of Charles Taylor from Hearts to Kotoko. Taylor was found flirting with Kotoko when Hearts claim he had extended his contact with the Phobians. Hearts reported the issue to the Ghana Football Association who asked Kotoko and Taylor to pay a total amount of GHC 85, 000, as compensation to Hearts.

Later, the two clubs agreed on a GHC 40 thousand transfer fee before Taylor was allowed to don the red and white jersey of Kotoko.

Charles Taylor was eventually banned for three months for breach of contract. After some months, FIFA came out that Taylor ’s contract with Hearts had expired and he is a free agent. Hearts refused to refund the money to Kotoko when they were told to refund it by the GFA.

Three years later, another player, Daniel Quaye, attempted to switch camp from Hearts to Kotoko, but Hearts refused to allow him to join their biggest rivals. Quaye was eventually transferred to Chinese second division side, Chonfiqing Lifan.

STATISTICS

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