Schalke 04 and Ghanaian international Kevin Boateng has reavealed that the Baba Yara pitch was the major factor for his inablity to play the World cup decider against Zambia. Kevin was expected to make his first appearance for the Stars after rescinding his decision to quit international football.

The 26 year old has had several carrier threatened injuries and believe the hard-surfaced pitches in Ghana make him uncomfortable on the field of play. “My knee didn’t feel quite right. The pitch wasn’t such a good surface to play on because it was a bit hard,” he told reporters on his return to Germany to resume club duties with Schalke. “That’s why the manager and I agreed that I would not play. Every footballer has his only little problems”.

It is now unclear whether Boateng can ever  play for the Black Stars in Ghana since the pitches in Accra and Kumasi – managed by Green Grass Technology – share similar features. Boateng’s disclosure has now only succeeded in heightening doubts over his commitments to play for the Black Stars despite his show of love for Ghana in a personal ‘lap of honour’ before the win over Zambia.