Asamoah Gyan urges preservation of standard-sized pitches in Ghanaian communities

Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan insists that maintaining standard-sized pitches should be the utmost priority in Ghanaian communities, rather than diverting towards small pitches.

Gyan, who scored a record 51 goals for Ghana, believes that while these small-sized pitches provide a modern experience to players, true learning of the game comes from encountering standard-sized pitches over an extended period.

He illustrates this point by referencing the Dansoman community, which once had a grassless standard-size football pitch bustling with 11-aside Colts games every Saturday.

Gyan expresses concern about the conversion of such pitches into 5-aside ones, questioning where future players will compete and where Colts tournaments will thrive.

“I am not saying small pitches are not good for grassroots football development,” Gyan states. “In fact, it helped me and indeed most other players develop close control, passing, creativity, and movement. What’s my point? Small pitches complement football development but should never replace standard-size ones in Ghanaian communities.”

“As a football nation, we cannot sacrifice quality and standards for convenience and aesthetics.”

I started my football journey as a Colts Player, playing on a grassless pitch every Saturday at Dansoman. Yet, it was this same grassless standard-size pitch that truly shaped me and a lot of my contemporaries. Does that mean we shouldn’t improve? No!

I have observed a trend of…

— ASAMOAH GYAN (@ASAMOAH_GYAN3) February 29, 2024

Gyan was appointed earlier this month as chair of the youth and sports sub-committee for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign manifesto ahead of the 2024 elections, expressing his desire to improve sporting management and football holistically.

He has always had the urge to contribute to football development in the country and will continue admonishing and encouraging Ghanaian football stakeholders until that goal is realised.

By Prosper Kuzo | 3Sports | Ghana