Sammy Kuffuor Raises Alarm Over Decline of Grassroots Football in Ghana
Former Ghana national football team defender Sammy Kuffuor has issued a stark warning about the future of grassroots football in The post Sammy Kuffuor Raises Alarm Over Decline of Grassroots Football in Ghana first appeared on Africa Top Sports.
Black News 
Former Ghana national football team defender Sammy Kuffuor has issued a stark warning about the future of grassroots football in the country, expressing deep concern over the direction of youth development and access to the game.
Speaking candidly on the state of football at the base level, Kuffuor stressed that his fears are not rooted in nostalgia, but in what lies ahead if urgent action is not taken.
“For me, it’s not about what we have lost, but what we are about to lose,” he said. “That’s my worry because it will get to a time when you won’t find any young boy playing football.”
The former Bayern Munich stalwart questioned the increasing reliance on artificial pitches, commonly referred to as astroturf, arguing that the widespread adoption of such facilities could inadvertently limit access for many young talents.
“You see, making more pitches is not astroturf for me. It’s too hot. Even in Europe, when you go to Europe, everybody has stopped using astroturf and now we are doing it,” he noted.
Kuffuor further highlighted the economic barrier posed by privately owned astroturf facilities, many of which charge usage fees that are beyond the reach of children from less privileged backgrounds.
“We have astroturfs everywhere. How can my mother, who didn’t have anything when I was growing up, pay money to somebody building an astroturf and having an academy for me to go and play football? It would not be possible,” he added.
His remarks reignite an ongoing debate about the structure of youth football in Ghana, where concerns over accessibility, infrastructure, and long-term talent development continue to grow. Kuffuor’s intervention serves as a reminder that without inclusive and sustainable grassroots systems, the country risks undermining the very foundation of its football future.
The post Sammy Kuffuor Raises Alarm Over Decline of Grassroots Football in Ghana first appeared on Africa Top Sports.
