Wembley CEO advocates for enhanced sports infrastructure through astroturf installations

Robert Tetteh Coleman, CEO of Wembley Sports Construction, has shared insights on the significant progress and potential of Astroturf installations across Ghana.

Addressing President Akufo-Addo’s remarks on the proliferation of Astroturf pitches in the country, Coleman affirmed the accuracy of the President’s statements.

“What the President said is not a lie,” he emphasized, highlighting the remarkable increase in the number of Astroturf facilities from just three before 2016 to approximately 150 across Ghana today.

Coleman further elaborated on the company’s proactive approach in leveraging governmental support to facilitate the construction of Astroturf pitches “When his excellency came and said they were going to start these developments and they were sending 1million dollars, we also decided to tap into the one million dollars. So, we started propagating the message” he said during an interview with Johnnie Hughes on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on February 26.

Highlighting the collaborative efforts between Wembley and government bodies, Coleman detailed comprehensive presentations made to parliamentary select committees and ministries to garner support for Astroturf projects. “Parliament invited my good self together with my team to come and do a comprehensive presentation for them to see what we’ve been able to do after they came to visit the site. So, we went there, we met at the parliamentary select committee, we sold the idea to them”, he said.

He emphasized the importance of training local talent in every region where installations are undertaken, ensuring readiness and sustainability. “we try to employ young men over there and then try them. So everywhere we go currently, we have people about 20 people who have trained to do the installation” he asserted.

Discussing the advantages of Astroturf over natural grass pitches, Coleman emphasized its multipurpose nature and durability, making it a preferred choice for sports enthusiasts across the country.

He advocated for a blend of Astroturf and natural grass pitches, citing examples from advanced countries where both types of pitches coexist harmoniously.

“In advanced countries, when you go to Turkey, the United State of America, almost all the communities they have an Astroturf together with the natural grass. We specialize in Astroturfs, and that is why we are campaigning, or we are advocating for government to do these Astroturfs, however, we can blend the two”.

Moreover, Coleman addressed concerns about the quality and longevity of Astroturf installations, assuring that Wembley adheres to stringent standards to ensure that all projects stand the test of time.

“These Astroturf that you see that have not been properly done, we have absolutely nothing to do with it. There is no Astroturf that we have done that I can say that have gone bad. Yes there are challenges here and there but I can say that the kind of training the staff of Wembley receive and the kind of equipment that we use, we ensure that whatever we do stands the test of time” he urged.

By Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi