A management expert Mr. Edward Ansah of the Architectural Engineering Services Limited, the company employed to oversee the maintenance of the Accra Sports Stadium says the stadium is in very good condition to host the crucial Cup of Nations qualifier between the Black Stars of Ghana and Malawi. His statement follows media reports the stadium is in poor state. The Board Chairman of the of the National Sports Authority Mr Kojo Bonsu made a stunning revelation in an interview on Joy Sports Sports Link programme over a week ago about the deteriorating state of the stadium and how urgent attention had to be paid to the facility. Subsequently, Joy Sports' visit to the stadium revealed some dilapidation and the urgent need for attention. Edward Ansah admited a poor maintenance culture in Ghana, adding, the location of the stadium which is just a few meters from the Atlantic Ocean has affected the metal trappings and has put them in the dilapidated state in which it finds itself. Though he would not specify the cost to be incurred in the maintenance of the stadium, he was of the opinion that the metal trappings needed to be painted and the seats taken a second look at. “It is unfortunate per what we are seeing this afternoon that the facility has been neglected for a while but from the analysis we have done so far, the situation is not a as bad as is being perceived. The facility has suffered from its location to the ocean that is why you see the metal straps in the form in which they are. We have advised that the trappings and the stadium be painted with the plastic seats also given a certain level of attention but I would have to add that the stadium is very safe for every event that has been planned for this venue”. The assurance by the experts would surely go a long way in calming fans who may have decided against visiting the stadium come Saturday,8th September, 2012 when the senior national team the Black Stars go into the action against her opponents from Malawi in an African Cup Of Nations qualifier. In a related development, a Deputy Secretary General of the Ghana Football Association Mr Ike Addo who was at the Stadium premises to oversee the facility ahead of the Stars game has revealed that the Black Stars will be training at the venue beginning tomorrow morning as they prepare for the CAN qualifier. According to him, the team will be training twice a day except on Friday where the Malawians would also have the opportunity of training on the pitch. He also used the opportunity to urge the fans of the National Stadium to come over in their numbers to cheer the players on for the crucial CAN encounter. The game is scheduled for 3:30pm on Saturday.