Medeama Sporting Club midfielder Manuel Mantey expressed his frustration but also his pride after the team’s 1-0 defeat to Hearts of Oak in their Ghana Premier League Week 25 encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium on April 6, 2025. The substitute, who came on at halftime, reflected on a tough night in Accra during the post-match media engagement.

“It’s hard to take,” Mantey admitted. “We came here with a plan to win, especially after losing to them at home earlier this season. We gave everything, but that one moment of brilliance from their player [Raphael Amponsah] made the difference. It’s football—you can’t always predict it.”

Mantey, introduced at the start of the second half alongside Kyei and Fordjour, aimed to shift the game’s momentum. “The coach told us to bring energy and push forward, and I think we did that,” he said. “I tried to link up with Kelvin [Nkrumah] and Prosper [Owusu Boakye] to create something, but their defense was solid, and we just couldn’t break through.”

Despite the loss, Mantey praised the team’s spirit and the support from the traveling fans. “The boys never stopped fighting, and hearing our supporters in the stands kept us going. We wanted to repay them with a goal, but it didn’t happen today.”

The midfielder remains optimistic: “We’ve shown we can beat tough teams this season. This hurts, but it’ll make us hungrier. I promise our fans we’ll work harder and come back stronger.”