Youth and Sports Minister Nii Lantei Vanderpuye says he wants to completely scrap winning bonuses for qualifiers involving the Black Stars because it is unfair to other sportsmen.
Vanderpuye told a gathering in Accra that paying members of the Black Stars winning bonuses while not paying other athletes for qualifying for major events is not right.
He has also taken a dig at the team over their attitude and claims the failure of the country to properly orientate players on the virtues of playing for the national team is largely to blame for the sense of entitlement permeating the team.
Vanderpuye has already negotiated a reduction in winning bonuses for the Black Stars from $10,000 to $8,000 and scrapped winning bonuses for management committee members but there could be more to come.
“I believe seriously that before anyone is chosen, he is offering a national service. If he is being paid it is because the country recognises that. That person must be grateful to the country that out of the millions, this country has given him the opportunity,” he said.
“The minister is able to negotiate winning bonus from 10,000 to 8,000 dollars. Even that the minister is crucified,” he continued.
“Even to me, nobody would be paid a pessewa for playing any qualifying series anywhere in this world. I don’t even understand. Why should a footballer play in a cup of nations qualifier and be paid winning bonus but an athlete goes through the same process for Olympic Games and is not paid? But that footballer is not grateful.
“He will be asking that the country buys him a business class ticket before he plays for Ghana. He doesn’t want to sleep in Alisa hotel but wants Muvinpik. But you don’t blame him. We never to develop the mental capacity of that player to play for Ghana so he thinks that by playing for Ghana he is rather doing the country a favour meanwhile playing for Ghana adds value to that person.”
Credit: Pulse Sports
