Hearts of Oak withdraw from EKO International Tournament over player welfare concerns

Hearts of Oak withdraw from EKO International Tournament over player welfare concerns

Hearts of OakHearts of Oak have officially pulled out of the 2025 EKO International Tournament in Lagos, Nigeria, citing concerns over player welfare and a disrupted pre-season schedule.The Phobians were initially expected to compete in the prestigious tournament from July 6 to 13. However, organizers recently rescheduled the event to July 1320, clashing with the clubs planned rest and recovery period.In a statement released on Monday, the club explained the decision followed careful discussions between management and the technical team, adding that the revised dates interfere with their pre-season preparations.The tournament was later rescheduled to July 1320. Unfortunately, this change clashes with our carefully planned rest and recovery period for the players, which is crucial before we kick off our pre-season preparations, the club stated.Hearts emphasized that player well-being remains their top priority.We have taken the difficult decision to withdraw in order to protect the well-being of our squad, the statement read.The club apologized to both fans and tournament organizers, acknowledging the disappointment their withdrawal may cause.

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