Head coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Martin Koopman has laid down the gauntlet to his players that no one is guaranteed a starting position in the team.

He says that each player must fight hard in other to earn a starting place in the team's first eleven this season.

Despite Hearts of Oak's blistering pre-season form, they lost their opening league game 1-0 against Real Tamale United last Friday.

According to the Dutchman, players must justify why they must start in the first eleven every week in training.

The Dutchman said: Look, I have 30 players and the 30 players are all in the family; all the same. So, we have a lot of players who have the same qualities. So, players are disappointed and that’s good. You must be disappointed if you are not playing.

“So, they must fight back in the week to come into the team. And everybody must fight for his place in the team.”

The Phobians will host Nsoatreman FC in Accra for their next game and they will be hoping to bounce back from their matchday 1 defeat to RTU.