Ghana Premier League side, Heart of Lions could lose another top performer in the name of defender Ruben Hennessy at the end of the 2025/26 season.
At the end of the 2024/25 campaign, the Kpando-based outfit saw their marksman and top scorer Nana Kwame Oppong join Cambodian Premier League side Visakha FC on a permanent deal.
It was Oppong’s second year with Lions, having joined a season earlier on a loan-deal from Tamale Liberty with two goals in 15 games during his loan spell.
Before his exit, the forward bagged a total 11 goals in 28 games for Lions, ending the campaign as the club’s top scorer and the league’s fifth, four behind eventual winner Stephen Amankomah (15).
As typical of most clubs eager to cash out, it was very evidential that Lions will be ready to transact business should a good deal be offered.
It was reported Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak were tracking the striker, but it was Visakha who succeeded in securing his signature.
Barely a year after Oppong’s exit, and it looks like another top player could follow suit in the coming months if both parties fail to agree on common grounds.
Now, it is widely reported that some top officials of Asante Kotoko have been keeping an eagle eye on full-back Ruben Hennessy as a possible successor to Congolese defender Samba O’Neil.
The versatile Hennessy is serving his last term of his three-year contract with Lions likewise O’Neil who committed to a two-year contract with the Porcupine Warriors.
Meanwhile, it has been rumored that Heart of Lions are yet to make a decision about the future of the in-demand center-back.
Hennessy walked into the Lions team during the 2023/24 season after a blistering three-year stay with Tema Youth where he was named the Best Defender in the 2021 Division One League Super Cup.
It was no fluke when he formed a solid pair with Ebenezer Abban in the heart of defense in his debut season, with 31 appearances under his belt and a goal.
He fueled his consistency into his second season and still maintained his spot with Abban with 31 games.
Ruben played an integral part in the club’s success as Lions ended the 2024/25 season in second place with 60 points, three behind winners Gold Stars.
His performances were overlooked by the technical handlers of the Black Galaxies and the Black Stars, but not that of many top sports journalists and radio presenters who taunted his output.
Hennessy has been praised and admired by many for his qualities as a modern-day center back.
His composure, calmness on the ball, tackles, aerial agility and ability to read the game makes him one of the best among the top five center-backs in the Ghana Premier League.
Football Administrator and Accra Great Olympics General Manager, Eric Alagidede has labeled him as the best in the league while Accra Hearts of Oak Supporters Leader, Desmond Nartey also lauded his qualities and recommended him for the club.
Ruben Hennessy’s regularity has been replicated in the ongoing 25/26 campaign with 16 games out of 19 games, missing three.
Hennessy started playing in Ashaiman for colts clubs Karikamaa, Tottenham before joining Real Atletico in Tema.
In 2020, Current Hearts of Oak and Black Queens fitness coach Jordan Daitey signed him to Tema Youth where he once served as the Head Coach.
A determined, committed and hardworking Hennessy first tasted Premier League football in 2023 when he signed for Heart of Lions and already has over 80 matches in his name.
Having gone through all the ranks, it will not come as a surprise when he gets to don the jersey of Asante Kotoko soon.
He is name has been on the lips of most top journalists and radio stations in Kumasi as some fans of the club already see him as the perfect substitute for Samba O’Neil.
Notwithstanding, It has been weeks of contract talks between Samba O’Neil and Asante Kotoko with rumors that the skipper is reluctant to agree to a new deal.
According to Kumasi-based Wontumi FM, Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv has expressed a strong interest and tabled $150,000 to capture his signature.
Also, UAE outfit Dubai City are said to be considering a move for the rock-solid defender if he prefers to turn down Kotoko’s new deal.
The Congolese international joined the Porcupine Warriors in 2024 from Rahimo FC and has since established himself as a key member of the team.
The 25-year-old center-back has made 18 appearances for Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League this season, scoring two goals across the period.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Samba made four appearances, scoring a goal as the Ghanaian giants bowed out in the second preliminary round.
Since joining Kotoko, Samba has made over 50 appearances across competitions, scoring three goals and delivering an assist.
In the heat of all these reports, Kotoko’s coach Karim Zito remains optimistic the club will put in relentless efforts to maintain the player’s services.
But the question remains how far can the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the club led by Nana Apinkra go to keep their most dependable full back?
By: Linus Siaw Nartey
