Former Barcelona star Memphis Depay voiced his disappointment after visiting Asante Kotoko’s training grounds on Boxing Day, where he was struck by the poor condition of the pitch being used by the players.
The Dutch international, of Ghanaian descent, was visibly surprised by the substandard playing surface, which he described as unsuitable for professional football. After observing the training session, Depay addressed the players, acknowledging their resilience in working with such a challenging environment.
“You guys train on these types of pitches, I respect that. It’s not easy. The ball bounces too much, so it takes more time to control,” Depay remarked, clearly taken aback by the situation.
Depay, who is currently in Ghana for the Christmas holidays, assured the team that he was already brainstorming solutions behind the scenes to address the issue. “But how can we resolve it? I’m brainstorming with everyone behind the scenes now that I’ve shown my face here, and I’ll do my best to help make things change,” he added.
This visit was not Depay’s first connection with the club, as he had previously met with Asante Kotoko’s owner, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, during an earlier visit to Ghana.
On a more positive note, Depay shared his plans to organize a friendly match between his current club, Corinthians of Brazil, and Asante Kotoko. Although he did not provide specific details, he expressed his excitement about making the match a reality.
“I am trying to arrange something for the team to maybe play a friendly game against my team in Brazil, Corinthians. I’ll discuss it with the coach. It’s in the plan,” Depay said, hinting at a potential future encounter that could bring further international attention to Kotoko.
