Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, has urged greater public education on football pitch maintenance, saying many of the criticisms directed at grounds staff are based on a limited understanding of the work involved.

His comments follow the circulation of a viral video on social media showing the early stages of maintenance work on a football pitch, prompting some users to question the methods being employed.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Ampofo Ankrah admitted that he also had little knowledge of pitch maintenance before assuming office, stressing that the footage only captured the first phase of a much more detailed and technical process.

“I don’t blame people, or even my colleagues, for being ignorant of what goes into pitch maintenance. I was once ignorant of the process myself. The video circulating shows the dirty work that is done before all the other maintenance processes begin,” Mr Ankrah said.

The NSA Director General explained that preparing a football pitch involves several technical procedures that are not immediately visible to the public, noting that the initial groundwork is essential to producing a quality playing surface suitable for competitive matches.

Ampofo Ankrah also appealed to the media to play a key role in educating the public on the realities of pitch maintenance, arguing that better understanding would encourage more informed and constructive discussions about the condition of football venues across the country.

“It’s important we educate the people through the media to understand the work we do to facilitate constructive criticism on pitch maintenance,” he added.

He expressed confidence that increased public awareness would lead to more meaningful conversations about the challenges involved in maintaining football pitches and the efforts required to keep them in top condition.