Upgrade The Pitch

Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has called on government to channel resources into uplifting the state of the pitch at the Accra Sports stadium after the team’s 7-1 victory over Mauritius on Sunday.

A brace each from Gyan and highly impressive Jordan Ayew coupled with goals each from Christian Atsu, Jeffrey Schlupp and David Accam ensured that Mauritian Sophine Jean Pierre’s goal was only a consolation in their 7-1 thumping of the visitors.

Before the game both Gyan and coach of the side Avram Grant had bitterly complained about the state of the pitch with the excessive use clearly having an effect on the pitch.

“The pitch wasn’t good but we had to adapt so we can be able to get this victory that we all desired,” The Al Ain striker told the press after the game

“We were aided by the weather which helped us a bit. I am appealing to government to help improve the pitch here at the Accra sports stadium.”

Ghana’s heavy win puts them in pole position in group H ahead of Rwanda who got an important away victory against Mozambique.

*Former Ghana coach James Kwesi Appiah is mourning the loss of his former playmate and brother ‘King’ George Arthur who passed on yesterday at the Sunyani Regional Hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Kwesi Appiah was a playmate of the late Arthur at both Asante Kotoko and in the Black Stars and there existed a great bond of friendship between the two because both also hailed from from the Sunyani community.

The Ghana World Cup coach who now leads Sudanese side Khartoum Watani, says it was a “day of sorrow” to hear the death of Arthur.

Below is a heartbreaking statement released by the Sudan-based coach after hearing of the demise of his former playmate.

“A day of sorrow. It’s really sad to loose a friend and brother. He was always encouraging me to work hard and serve the nation.Now that he is gone who will be my brother and best friend in Sunyani.