Sam Johnson, Laryea Kingston Et Al Advocate For Astro-Turf Pitches

Former Black Stars players, Sam Johnson, Laryea Kingston and Augustine Arhinful have thrown their support behind the construction of artificial football pitches in the country.

According to them, the astro-turf pitches will improve the Sports sector of the economy with regard to soccer.

In the view of Sam Johnson, the government needs to invest more into astro-turfs saying “if the country is considering building the normal pitches, then they should try to raise the standard deserving as a football pitch…The astro-turf is good but how to maintain it is the most important…If we say we are going to do it, then we should go for the quality and the best".

Augustine Arhinful also believes the astro-turf pitches will help "to improve the technical ability of the youth".

Their comments come on the heels of criticisms from former Ghanaian international soccer star, Samuel Osei Kuffour, who disagrees with government's decision to construct astro-turf pitches across the country.

He argued that the artificial pitches are not ideal for the young generation of football players.

"Now, we have astro-turf coming to Ghana; is it good for our football? For me, I think it's not the best for our kids, how many of them would get injuries in the Achilles, injury problems everywhere because of astro-turf".

Laryea Kingston however commended Wembley Sports Complex (WSC), a privately owned Ghanaian Company and contractor for the construction of the artificial pitches, for their dedication to the work.

“I have played both on normal pitch and astro-turf and can testify that the astro-turfs are good. I don’t agree with those kicking against astro-turf pitch because it’s been done in France, Germany and England. So, why not in Ghana?", he questioned. 

Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/Peacefmonline/[email protected]