SAMUEL INKOOM PERFORMANCE WAS EXTRA-ORDINARY, PROVING THERE IS LIFE IN THE OLD AGE
The 32 years arrival at the club was inimical. Samuel who? They ask. What has he got to offer now when he’s already entered his twilight?
Why must we sign him when we want to build a formidable side mainly with the youth? The questions kept coming, challenging the decision of upper echelon of the club to strengthen the depth of the squad with the former Asante Kotoko player.
Fortunately for Inkoom, Hearts’ Management and technical team never wavered in their conviction of him and went ahead to sign him on much to the dismay of a section of their fans.
In a journeyman career that has seen him featuring for clubs in 9 different countries, notably Switzerland, Ukraine, France, Greece, United States of America, Portugal, Turkey, Bulgaria and Georgia, the right-back returned to Ghana to relaunch his career with the Phobians against the wish of many a Kotoko fan with whom he attained a cult status.
Samuel Inkoom it would be recalled joined Asante Kotoko for the 2008/09 season and after a splendid season with the Porcupine Warriors, he earned a move to Switzerland to FC Basel.
Making his Hearts debut against former club Kotoko, Inkoom breathed life into the Hearts team and was one of the reasons why the Phobians came stronger in the game in the second half. He replicated same performance in his second appearance for the club in Hearts’ 1-0 win over lower tier side Skyy FC in an FA Cup appearance. Inkoom would often mix hugging the touchline with shrewdly drifting infield into the half and 10 spaces.
Other ways Inkoom caused damage was via his customarily well timed and arced runs in behind his tracker, plus through his vast distribution repertoire, which sees him equally adept at playing a wide array of short, mid-range and long passes.
While he deserves immense credit for his work rate and performances, it is his overall approach that has been the real story. Positive, calm and insightful, he has given the club options at the right-back position.
Bringing vital mental fortitude, immense footballing quality and unmistakable experience, signing Inkoom on a free transfer is already turning out to be a superb piece of business – and one that might just prove vital in Hearts winning a silverware this campaign.
