Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has expressed concerns about the deplorable state of the Accra Sports Stadium pitch, which he believes hinders the quality of play for footballers.
Despite the poor condition, Vanderpuye is relieved that no players sustained serious injuries during the Democracy Cup game.
Speaking after the event, Vanderpuye noted that the pitch was not conducive for playing, making it challenging for players to control the ball.
“The pitch is not as friendly as we would have liked it to be. It was a real struggle to control the ball, but we managed to some extent. We should be thankful that there were no serious injuries. It was a fun experience, and we all enjoyed ourselves,” he said.
The Democracy Cup, an annual event aimed at promoting Ghana’s parliamentary democracy through sports, took place on July 18, 2024, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The event featured a match between Members of Parliament and staff of the legislative house against former players of Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars. The parliamentary select side won 3-1 against the former professionals.
The day concluded with Kumasi Asante Kotoko defeating Accra Hearts of Oak 2-1 to win the inaugural cup.
Despite the challenges posed by the pitch, Vanderpuye emphasized the importance of promoting parliamentary democracy through sports events like the Democracy Cup.
