[tomlegg]

Just like when artificial pitches were used in the Peru Under 17 World Cup in 2005 commentators, players, coaches and fans have been discussion the merits of using artificial pitches in professional and youth football. But what about artificial pitches being used in Africa for football development and even national league games?

Some people have suggested that if players develop entirely on synthetic pitches that they will find it difficult to adapt to playing at the very highest level on grass pitches, what are your thoughts?

Personally I think its possibly the best legacy - along with cleaning up the administration of CAF members - that FIFA could leave Africa after the 2010 World Cup. I've written a short piece on this on my blog: http://bit.ly/33I9sm

[Oceans of time]

Originally Posted by tomlegg

Just like when artificial pitches were used in the Peru Under 17 World Cup in 2005 commentators, players, coaches and fans have been discussion the merits of using artificial pitches in professional and youth football. But what about artificial pitches being used in Africa for football development and even national league games?

Some people have suggested that if players develop entirely on synthetic pitches that they will find it difficult to adapt to playing at the very highest level on grass pitches, what are your thoughts?

Personally I think its possibly the best legacy - along with cleaning up the administration of CAF members - that FIFA could leave Africa after the 2010 World Cup. I've written a short piece on this on my blog: http://bit.ly/33I9sm

It seems like when I see MLS soccer on artificial turf it turns what is supposed to be a three dimensional game into zero dimensional game. But then I saw the (under 17? WC final) between Nigeria and Spain in Nigeria (Nigeria won) on artificial and I thought this Nigerian team has the quickness and speed to get to a passed ball before it goes out of bounds on artificial. I think that was the first time I saw a team who could make soccer fast (blazing fast actually) and fun on artificial turf. So my verdict is I'm generally against artificial turf for soccer but if you own a pro team that is, for whatever reason, stuck with artificial like Toronto or New England I have just one piece of advice- build a team 100% comprised of the fastest, young, African players your budget will allow.