Ghanaian football icon, Asamoah Gyan, has voiced his concerns regarding the trend of converting large community pitches into smaller, five-a-side pitches equipped with artificial turf.

Reflecting on his own journey in football, Gyan reminisces about his humble beginnings as a Colts player, honing his skills on a grassless pitch every Saturday in Dansoman. Despite the challenging conditions, Gyan acknowledges the role this standard-size pitch played in shaping him and many of his peers.

However, Gyan expresses worry over the increasing practice of transforming these larger pitches into compact five-a-side setups. He paints a vivid picture of communities like Dansoman, where vibrant 11-a-side Colts games once thrived on these standard-size pitches, only to be replaced by smaller alternatives.

Gyan raises important questions about the impact of this shift on the future of football in these communities. Where will aspiring players hone their skills? Where will the tradition of Colts tournaments flourish?

“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 converting large community pitches into 5-aside pitches. And it’s becoming concerning.”

“Picture the Dansoman community with one grassless standard-size football pitch some 15 years ago, active with 11-aside Colts games every Saturday.”

“Now, imagine returning years later to find the same converted into a 5-aside pitch.Where will future players in the community compete?
Where will Colts tournaments thrive?”

“I am not saying small pitches are not good for grassroots football development. 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.”

“We need the small pitches as much as the standard-size ones whether with natural or artificial turf for grassroots development within our communities.”

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While acknowledging the benefits of small pitches for grassroots development, Gyan emphasizes the importance of preserving standard-size pitches in Ghanaian communities. He argues that these larger spaces are essential for nurturing well-rounded players and maintaining the quality and standards of football at the grassroots level.

In a plea to football stakeholders, Gyan advocates for a balance between small and standard-size pitches, whether natural or artificial. He stresses that convenience and aesthetics should not come at the expense of quality and the long-term development of Ghanaian football.

As Asamoah Gyan’s voice resonates across the football landscape, his message serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the foundations of the game while embracing innovation and progress in a sustainable manner.