Residents in Kyebi in the Abuakwa South Municipality in the Eastern region have benefited from an ultra-modern Astroturf, for the development of football at the grassroots level under government’s one constituency, one artificial turf initiative.
“Government will not be responsible for fixing of broken louver blades, seats or any other equipment in this facility,” he said.
In a short ceremony to commission the facility for use by the Zongo youth and people of Kyebi, the Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, Mustapha Hamid, tasked the municipal Chief Executive of Kyebi, Mr. Kojo Ofori-Safo, to form a committee that would be responsible for the maintenance of the facility.
Mr. Hamid also emphasized that the Astroturf is a government initiative to develop talents in the Zongo communities but due to unavailability of land at the zongo community in Kyebi, government in consultation with the chiefs and Zongo leadership decided to put up the facility at no location other than a Zongo community within the community.
He further added that the facility be rented to churches, private gatherings and political activities among others to generate money for the maintenance of the facility.
The minister also hinted that in January 2021, government will begin a Zongo youth talent hunt in the Zongo communities across the country by organising Zongo soccer leagues to identify and develop young football talents in the Zongo communities.
Former black star captain, Stephen Appiah encouraged the youth to take advantage of the facility and develop their talents stressing “talent alone is not enough, you need to work hard and be humble.”
He said many of them growing up did not get such opportunities and that the youth must ensure to put the facility into good use.
The CEO of Wembley Sports Construction Company Limited, the constructer of the facility, Mr. Robert Tetteh Coleman commended the government for the one constituency, one artificial turf initiative saying “before the establishment of Wembley, there were only two astro turfs in the country, Prampram and Tema. Today, over fifty pitches are either being constructed or completed across the country.”
The ultra-modern Astroturf facility is a standard 11 aside football pitch which comes with a 16 seater VIP sitting area with a thousand seater spectator stand, a two changing room for teams A and B, a referees changing room, a public washing rooms, flood lights and a mesh fencing.
