Richard “Olele” Kingson has been unveiled as the new goalkeeping coach of Hearts of Oak, with the Ghanaian giants continuing their technical restructuring ahead of the 2026/27 season.
The decision to appoint the former Black Stars goalkeeper comes after the arrival of Serbian coach Nebojsa Kapor as head coach, while Sulley Adamu is also expected to be confirmed as the club’s assistant coach in the coming days. Hearts appoint Richard Kingson as goalkeeping coach as part of efforts to strengthen the club’s backroom staff in pursuit of domestic success.
Kingson returns to the Phobians after previously serving in a similar capacity during a brief stint in 2021. Since then, he has continued to build his coaching credentials, including a spell as goalkeeping coach of the Black Stars during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The 47-year-old has also worked with Accra Great Olympics, adding to his growing experience as a specialist goalkeeping coach. His latest appointment is expected to bring leadership and technical expertise to one of the strongest goalkeeping departments in the Ghana Premier League.
Hearts are optimistic that Kingson’s wealth of experience, both as a player and coach, will enhance the development of their goalkeepers as they seek to challenge for major honours next season.
A Distinguished Career for Club and Country
Kingson is widely regarded as one of Ghana’s finest goalkeepers and nicknamed “Olele.”
During his time with the Black Stars, he earned 93 international caps and remarkably scored once, an unusual accomplishment for a goalkeeper. He represented Ghana at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and the 2010 edition in South Africa, where he played a pivotal role in the nation’s memorable campaign.
His performances at the 2010 World Cup were among the highlights of his international career. Kingson produced several outstanding saves as Ghana reached the quarter-finals for the first time in history, only to suffer a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Uruguay after extra time.
Away from the national team, Kingson enjoyed an extensive club career across Europe and Africa. He turned out for Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray, Swedish outfit Hammarby, and hometown club Accra Great Olympics. In England, he featured for Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Blackpool, gaining valuable experience in the Premier League.
His journey through different leagues and football cultures has equipped him with the knowledge Hearts hope will benefit their goalkeepers.
Boost for Hearts’ Title Ambitions
Kingson’s first assignment will be to oversee a goalkeeping unit that impressed throughout the 2025/26 Ghana Premier League campaign. Black Stars goalkeeper Benjamin Asare established himself as the club’s first choice, while Solomon Agbasi provided dependable competition.
The pair helped Hearts keep an impressive 24 clean sheets in 34 league matches, underlining the club’s defensive resilience. However, that impressive record was not enough to secure the league title, with the Phobians finishing third.
The club believes Kingson’s arrival can help turn a solid defensive foundation into a championship-winning team. His experience at the highest level of the game is expected to play a key role in sharpening the performances of both established and emerging goalkeepers.
With a revamped technical team taking shape under Kapor, Hearts of Oak will be aiming to end their league title drought and reclaim the Ghana Premier League crown for the first time since their triumph in 2021.