Report by Augustine Appiah:

Hearts of Oak have withdrawn from this year’s Top 4 tournament, organisers have confirmed, prompting the executive committee to move swiftly to a contingency plan involving FC Samatex.

According to John Ansah, speaking on behalf of the organisers and the executive committee (Exco) on MaxFm, Hearts did not formally communicate that they would not participate. Instead, the club contacted organisers only to request a date change, proposing that the tournament be moved to the 24th.

Organisers had previously shifted the original date from the 23rd to the 24th to accommodate Hearts’ engagement in the Democracy Cup. This time, however, a further change was not possible. “Consistency is very important,” Ansah stated, explaining why the schedule could not be altered again.

Anticipating that Hearts would ultimately not appear, Ansah and the exco had already prepared a Plan B. Under the use of the Premier League ladder system, FC Samatex stood as the next club in line and was invited to take Hearts’ place.

Samatex’s response has been praised by organisers. The club consistently sought clarification on the tournament date and proactively brought its own fixture forward so that it would not clash with the Top 4 event. Ansah described this approach as “beautiful”, highlighting the club’s professionalism and readiness.

On the broader question of scheduling, Ansah rejected calls for a rigid fixed date for the Top 4 tournament. He noted that letters are first sent to clubs announcing that the competition will be staged that year, after which the organising process begins. This sequence, he argued, provides the necessary flexibility while still giving clubs clear early notice.

The decision to proceed with Samatex ensures the tournament continues without disruption and underscores the organisers’ emphasis on preparation and consistency.