Black Stars players are patriotic – Sports Minister

Minister of Youth and Sports Isaac Asiamah has said players of the senior national team, the Black Stars, have shown patriotism in the country.

According to him, the players willingly accepted the reduction of their winning bonuses from the $10,000 to $5,000. This he said is a sign of patriotism among the players.

It is recalled the players of the Black Stars, were each paid $5,000 as winning bonus for beating the Walias of Ethiopia in their 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Deputy Sports Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, said the figure was the new winning bonus agreed after a round table discussion by the Ministry, Ghana Football Association (GFA), Management of the Black Stars and the playing body.

“We have explained to the players that the government can no longer pay exorbitant winning bonuses given the limited resources at our disposal”, he told the media in Kumasi.

Speaking at the Meet-The-Press series on Tuesday, 13 March 2018, Mr Asiamah indicated the willingness of the players to accept the cut in the bonuses showed they are patriotic.

He said: “Somebody is enjoying $10,000 and you bring it to $5,000, it is not easy at all. But I told the players that they were worth more than $5000 but let us develop that high sense of nationalism and patriotism for our country and they agreed.

“I want to report that the players are more patriotic to the cause of this country." "Our players are more patriotic,” he stressed.