Players of the Black Stars and their technical handlers will be laughing all the way to the bank by reaping huge financial rewards this weekend if they defeat Burkina Faso in their World Cup group qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium.
A special incentive package put together by the government and the Stars? sponsors, Gold Fields Ghana Limited, will see each player pocketing a cool $4,000 (almost ?37 million) as winning bonus. In addition they will each take home nearly $500 as camping allowance.
The incentive package, according to Mr Fred Pappoe, a GFA Management Board member and head of the Stars Management Committee, will be increased in their subsequent World Cup qualifiers against South Africa on June 18, against Uganda (September 4, in Kumasi) and away to Cape Verde on October 9.
On March 27, the Stars lost an opportunity to line their pockets with a winning bonus of $5,000 ? the biggest ever financial reward in the team?s history ? following their 1-1 draw with DR Congo in Kinshasa
However, the government, out of magnanimity after the team?s wonderful performance, rewarded each player with a ?golden handshake? of $1,000, even though it was an unusual practice to pay bonuses for drawn matches.
Even though the three points at stake are more valuable than any other consideration, the GFA is hoping that the new incentive package will serve as extra motivation for the team to win their remaining matches, which is the only guarantee for qualification to the Germany 2006 World Cup.
A whopping $3 million sponsorship by Gold Fields Limited caters for bonuses and allowances for the team, as well as the salary of the coach, Ratomir Dujkovic.
