Asante Kotoko coach, Prosper Narteh Ogum, has called on the Ghana Football Association to improve the standard of pitches and beef up security at the various stadia in a bid to improve the Ghana Premier League (GPL).
Speaking to the press on Sunday following his side's goalless game against Hearts of Oak, the enterprising trainers said the league is struggling to progress because of inadequate security and lack of quality pitches at some venues.
According to him, people will patronise the local league more as compared to the foreign ones such as La Liga and Premier League if these things are fixed by authorities and the supervisors of the league.
“I think there are certain venues when you go there it’s not friendly at all. When you go there they treat you like hated enemies, not like friendly rivals. You go there, the intimidation, the threat, some even want to beat you up. I am of the view that the security component of our league should be beefed up so that when we go to such venues we would be safe,” Ogum said.
“And then some of the pitches we play on are not good at all. They don’t give the players the opportunity to express themselves. If you look at the quality of the Accra Sports Stadium pitch today, you saw the quality of the game, both teams tried to keep the ball on the turf, and I think if venues have good quality pitches like this our league will be better.
“La Liga, EPL and others will be a thing of the past because they are a lot of young talents in the country and when we get good pitches I think we can get there.” the former WAFA trainer added.
Kotoko are first with a seven-point advantage over second-placed Bechem United. The Porcupine Warriors will host Dreams FC at the Baba Yara Stadium in the matchday 18 games on Sunday.