Asante Kotoko’s Ashanti Regional Circles Chairman, Alex Manu, has voiced concerns about the state of the pitch at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium ahead of the club’s return to their traditional home ground.
Speaking in an interview on Happy Sports, Alex Manu lamented the state of the pitch stating, “The pitch at the stadium hasn’t improved. I don’t know if it was abandoned because the stadium was no longer in use, but nothing has improved since we last left. It’s not green. We are hoping that by the time it’s time for our super clash against Hearts of Oak, they would have watered the pitch a little so it has improved.”
Asante Kotoko resumed playing at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for the remainder of the Ghana Premier League season following a directive from the National Sports Authority (NSA). The stadium had been closed in September for maintenance after its uneven state failed to meet CAF’s Category 3 standards during Ghana’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Angola.
The closure was intended to prepare the facility for Ghana’s international matches, but the Black Stars ultimately relocated to Accra for the remainder of their qualifiers. In the interim,Asante Kotoko played their home games at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium, where they recorded three wins, two losses, and a draw in six league matches.
Despite these challenges, Kotoko secured a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over Future Stars in their return to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium during an MTN FA Cup Round 64 fixture.
Asante Kotoko now turn their attention to a highly anticipated super clash against arch-rivals Hearts of Oak on the 13th of December 2024 in Kumasi.