A group of youngsters, mostly, below fifteen juggle several balls around the pitch.

A few others try various forms of football training rudiments under supervision of their coaches.

Francis Addai is twelve years and though he looks shorter for his age, opposing teammates find him too swift to handle on the pitch.

He has already been nicknamed “Messi” for his dribbling ability, after Barcelona and Argentine legend.

At least, twice a week, Francis spends GH₵12 from his home at Odiom to Sawaba to join his colleagues for training.

“I like football and want to be a footballer in future. I want to be like Messi because everyone says I play like him and I love it,” the rising star said.

A group of youngsters training on a grassless football field

Broken cement blocks fill parts of the eroded and gravel- filled football pitch without grass, the risk of injury starring at the youngsters in the face.

The pitch, for over a year, has been the training ground and home pitch for the team, Swansea Football Club based at Sawaba in Asokore Mampong Municipality.

On this pitch, Francis, suffered a knee injury when a colleague tackled him aggressively in an attempt to prevent him from scoring a goal.

It happened in a training match in which he also twisted his ankle after falling on a stone used to patch a gulley on the pitch about a month ago.

“We had to spend lots of money to help get him back on his feet. The team also helped us a lot. I wanted to stop him from playing but that is what he wants to do,’’ says Francis’ mother, Vanessa Addai.

Football talent developer and owner of Kumasi Swansea FC, Sampson Addo Mensah explains the impact of the poor nature of pitches on player development.

“Football is full of calculations, when you train the boys you must know the speed of the boy and the football itself. With such pitch you can’t get all these accurately.

Interview with Sampson Addo Owner of Kumasi Swansea FC

Swansea F.C is preferred option for many youngsters who aspire to become footballers.

Football is regarded as the number one sport in Ghana and other parts of the world.

At least, two-thirds of the country’s population will choose soccer over other games any day.

Ghana Football Association, the country’s governing body for the sport, founded in 1920, is the oldest in Africa.

Development of the game, especially at colts level, despite the potential economic opportunity for many families, remains a major concern.

Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Okraku revealed at his manifesto launch, ahead of his election that his intention is to develop colts football.

“We want to identify pitches, enhance the playing surface and use that as official game centres for colts football, Division 2 and 3”, he emphasised.

GFA President, Kurt Okraku

Having been in office for less than six months, it may be too early to hold him to the statement.

In wait of the promise, love, passion, and dream to be a professional bring these young ones to train every afternoon, after school, in worsening training conditions.

However, the hope of the upcoming footballers and their trainers is the development of this football pitch under the Zongo Development Fund.

Pitch under construction

At Ekyem in the same municipality, the community, through self- help, is upgrading a football pitch to enhance colts football.

It is a way LiveGreens Landscaping, a company started by No Business As Usual Hub, seeks to give back to society after supporting the startup.

Ekyem football pitch

Together with some residents of Ekyem, staff of the company went about to re-green defective portions of the field.

Emmanuel Cobbinah is a beneficiary of the European Union and SOS Children’s Village partnered program for the youth in Asokore Mampong Municipality.

“The idea is to help the communities bring out the potential in the young ones. We come with the expertise, the community helps with volunteers and at a little fee,  we green the pitches. This is the only way to help government improve these pitches”, he added.

Emmanuel Cobbinah, LiveGreens Landscaping

Already, the company has helped some communities with this business module to green football pitches.

Mr. Cobbina shares dream to see every community pitch developed to appreciable standards.

Until this is realized, these young ones, practicing on poor pitches daily may stumble in becoming football icons they dream to be.