After reports leaked from the Black Stars training camp yesterday that Ghana’s players planned on forfeiting tomorrow’s pivotal match against Portugal due to not being paid for their performances yet, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama (pictured above) has intervened to make sure everything is under control.
“The players insisted that they will want physical cash,” Deputy Sports Minister Joseph Yammin said in comments broadcast by Accra-based Citi FM. “Government had to mobilize the money and a chartered flight to Brazil. The money is in excess of $3 million.”
“President Mahama waded into the matter after agitation from the Black Stars players over their appearance fees for the World Cup which has not been paid since the start of the competition. President Mahama personally spoke to the players to assure them that the money will be paid by Wednesday afternoon which has brought some assurance to the Black Stars,” said the Ghana FA in a press release.
One must wonder how must focus and preparation the players have put in this week with this on the minds of the team. Last week, reports where that the players planned on protesting against manager and former Black Star Kwesi Appiah. Ghana’s FA denied the reports and the players played a good game where they drew against World Cup favorites Germany 2-2. Now with this issue resolved, the squad has one day to remember what they’re in Brazil for and try to beat Portugal who have an outside shot of qualifying for the knockout stage.
SEE MORE — Watch Asamoah Gyan’s crazy celebration dance against Germany.
Moments like this is when the elder statesmen of the team like Michael Essien, captain Asamoah Gyan and Sulley Muntari must remind their teammates to play hard for each other and try their best to succeed. Losing to the United States in their opening match put them in the predicament they’re in with having to depend on Die Mannschaft to defeat the USA while beating Portugal by a certain margin to advance. If the Black Stars can accomplish this, then they can put all issues behind them and focus on making another run like 2010 which can go further.
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R.O
June 25, 2014 at 12:57 pm
A similar thing occurred with Cameroon in the 1994 WC. Before the game with Russia at Stanford, Cameroon players weren’t going to play as their hotel rooms hadn’t been paid for by the Cameroon Federation and they hadn’t been paid.
Supposedly the issues were resolved before the game but, Cameroon did lose 6-1 with Salenko scoring 5 goals (Roger Milla scored for Cameroon).
There was speculation that the Cameroon players lost on purpose. Never proven.
Pakapala
June 25, 2014 at 5:00 pm
I remember vividly watching that game live. Cameroon were not even trying in that game. To this day I believe they threw the game.
R.O
June 25, 2014 at 8:11 pm
I was at that game. Salenko had a great game. I was very disappointed as I was rooting for Cameroon. I liked them since their first WC appearance (1982) where they didn’t lose a game (3 ties) but didn’t advance.
Then in 1990 I loved it when they beat Argentina. They could have beaten England but Cameroon style was to go forward and in the end it cost them.
They haven’t been the same since.
Lon
June 25, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Greed, incompetence, corruption. T.I.A baby!!!!
EDub
June 25, 2014 at 11:34 am
First off, most (if not all) federations pay their players. The sad thing is that THIS is the highest profile news on a team that may in fact be out in about 24 hours.
This has not been a good WCup for African teams.
Bergkamp_10
June 25, 2014 at 11:26 am
–correction: payed
Flip
June 25, 2014 at 12:41 pm
-correction: paid
Bergkamp_10
June 25, 2014 at 11:26 am
Playing for your country? Or is it playing for money? I wonder what Ghanaian feel when their players are only concerned about being played. The president had to call them up. What a shame.
brn442
June 25, 2014 at 2:41 pm
@Berg,
Nothing in life is free. FIFA, and all the Federations, get paid a ton from the World Cup revenues.
It’s not the first time that players that were promised bonuses etc, only for a corrupt FA (usually African) to break their promise and keep the cash themselves. Good for the players.