Heavy rains disrupt Accra Sports Stadium pitch works - NSA

National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has attributed the condition of the Accra Sports Stadium pitch to persistent heavy rainfall, following concerns raised by Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren.

The Swedish trainer recently expressed reservations about the state of the playing surface as the Black Queens continue preparations for upcoming international assignments.

Responding to the concerns, Ankrah explained that the maintenance team has been battling difficult weather conditions, which have significantly affected efforts to keep the pitch in optimal condition.

According to him, torrential rains in recent weeks rendered parts of the pitch unplayable and disrupted routine maintenance schedules.

"The pitch was too soft for us to carry out some of the maintenance works. It had rained throughout the day, the whole night and even the day before, so we had to allow the surface to dry before we could mow and roll it," he explained.

Ankrah disclosed that he personally met Björkegren to explain the situation and the reasons behind the temporary suspension of some maintenance activities before one of the team's training sessions.

"I had to go and explain to the coach why the grass had not been mowed and pressed before their training session. Out of respect, I felt it was important to brief him personally, and he understood the circumstances," he said.

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He revealed that the authority has implemented a special maintenance and repair programme to prevent permanent damage to the surface while ensuring it remains usable until the end of the season.

"The pitch has played well beyond its expected capacity. We have had to introduce round-the-clock maintenance measures to ensure it does not suffer permanent erosion," he stated.

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