Frederick Ansah Botchway has opened up on the events leading to his unexpected departure from Hearts of Oak, detailing how the club negotiated his transfer without his knowledge.
The midfielder, who played a pivotal role in Hearts’ domestic treble-winning 2020/21 campaign, has finally shed light on how his time with the Phobians came to an abrupt and unsettling end.
Botchway, who joined Hearts of Oak on a free transfer in 2020 after leaving Liberty Professionals, quickly became a key figure in the squad.
He was instrumental as the club clinched the Ghana Premier League, FA Cup, and Super Cup in one of their most successful seasons in recent memory. However, by 2022, cracks had begun to appear.
Despite his contributions, Hearts of Oak deemed him surplus to requirements and initially released him.
The club later recalled him and instructed him to train with the team while he searched for a new club. Unbeknownst to Botchway, however, decisions about his future were already being made behind closed doors.
In a revealing interview on Sports Check on GhanaWeb TV with Frank-Kamal Acheampong, Botchway disclosed that his transfer to FC Samartex happened without his consent or involvement.
“For me, I didn’t even know about my move to Samartex until I was told. That means the transfer happened without my knowledge. Because then I was asking for my particulars, which the club was refusing. So, they just decided to give me out to a club without my knowledge,” he recounted.
Despite the lack of transparency, Botchway chose to stay positive. Rather than letting the situation derail his career, he embraced the opportunity.
“I didn’t take it personal, so I decided to join Samartex, but alongside, there were some moves that were coming my way, and they just gave me the chance to move on,” he added.
Botchway joined Samartex on a two-year deal and became the club’s eighth signing as they geared up for their maiden Ghana Premier League campaign.
While the circumstances of his exit from Hearts were less than ideal, his time at Samartex proved to be a crucial stepping stone.
In 2023, after a solid season in Samreboi, Botchway earned a move abroad, joining Ethiopian Premier League side Adama City FC on a permanent deal.
His performances continued to impress, and in 2025, he secured yet another move, this time to Zimbabwean side Scottland FC, marking a significant milestone in his football journey.
Watch the full interview below:
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