Stars-Cranes: Baba Yara stadium ready

Kumasi, Sept 1, GNA - The Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi which was closed down on August 5 this year for the pitch to be put in shape for Ghana's World Cup qualifying match against the Cranes of Uganda is ready for the match.

When the GNA Sports visited the stadium on Thursday to find out the condition of the pitch, the five-man technical team of the National Sports Council (NSC) responsible for works on the pitch were busily putting finishing touches to it.

"The pitch is in an excellent condition. In fact it is far better than the state in which it was when the Black Stars played the Bafana Bafana of South Africa", Mr Issaka Batiga, Head of the technical team told the GNA.

He said the rough portions of the pitch, especially at the centre, which made ball control difficult after it rains, have all be levelled up.

Mr Batiga said with this development, the pitch would no more be soggy easily when it rains and would allow for the smooth flow of the ball.

At the time the GNA got to the stadium, mowers were busily clearing the last portions of the pitch in readiness for the markings to be made on the pitch.