Former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has expressed concern over the diminishing number of Colts football pitches in Ghana, which he says are being taken over by estate developers. These fields once served as vital spaces for nurturing young football talent in the country.

Appiah shared his thoughts last month while addressing the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports, which is currently examining the Save Ghana Football petition. The petition, submitted by leaders of a February demonstration, calls for major reforms in Ghanaian football governance.

“Many of the pitches we played on during our Colts days have now been turned into buildings,” Appiah said. “We no longer have enough spaces to support the development of Colts football. It’s a shame because all of us came through the Colts system, and back then, young players could go straight from Colts to the Premier League.”