Hearts of Oak coach C.K Akunnor has tasked his players to step up their game or risk being sacked from the team. The Phobians have struggled in the second round of the league and have dropped to fourth on the league tables, 12 points behind leaders and sworn-rivals Asante Kotoko. Confidence of some of the players is believed at the lowest ebb while questions have been raised on the fitness level of others. “Players must work hard for places and not because they have personal ties with some members of the technical team or from elsewhere in the team,” the former Wolfsburg skipper said. “My message is straight, players must sit up and step up their performances or they’ll face my wrath and find themselves out of the team. “I am counting on all players to contribute their quota as we seek to get back to winning ways and I won’t compromise on that.” Hearts faces a daunting task on Sunday when they play Aduana Stars in Dormaa Ahenkro.