After Threatening To Strike, Ghana Black Stars Team Receives $3M Bonus In Brazil

Apparently, the promise of the Ghana Football Association to pay the players, even on Wednesday, the award for qualifying for the World Cup was fulfilled. Around 20h, a delegation Ghana with the late money landed in Brazil, where the team faces Portugal on Thursday. With police escort, responsible for the transport of values ​​went straight to the hotel where the team is staying pathway was shown during the National Journal, TV Globo (see the video). According to Agence France Press, the award is around $ 3 million (approximately U.S. $ 6.7 million).

Shortly after the arrival of the entourage, the players began to drive to one of the hotel rooms to withdraw the money owed by the federation. Some kept the amount in the pocket or wrapped in pieces of clothing. Others left with the wad of bills in his hand. The estimate is that the award of each athlete is $ 100 thousand.

The whole operation to take the bonus money to Brazil occurred because the players demanded that the payment was to be made ​​in cash and not by bank transfer. According to Coach James Akwasi Appiah, the request is related to the culture of Ghana.

“The practice in Ghana has always paid in cash, not by bank transfer. Some players even have a bank account in Ghana. The system (bank) is any different than you are used to in Europe. But it is a common practice among us” the coach explained at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

The Ghana Football Association has agreed to pay the award delayed by qualifying for the World Cup after a strike threat made by the players, who refused to train on Tuesday. After meetings and a personal conversation the president of the FA, Kwesi Nyantakyi, the players agreed to discharge the debt. The government is pre-financing payment of the Black Stars, which will be refunded when FIFA pay a participation fee of Ghana at the World Cup after the dispute of the tournament in Brazil – said a statement posted on the morning of Wednesday on the official GFAwebsite. In the afternoon, now calmer after the commitment made by the federation, the players conducted the only practice in the federal capital before the match against Portugal. During the 15 minutes open to the media, we observed a relaxed mood among athletes.

It is the right of the players to receive the money and was promised that payment would happen before coming to Brazil. It’s the same money paid to players worldwide. FIFA pass the money to countries that pay the players. It would sure get something that was promised. But the players are focused. Let’s leave it behind and get on the field to give the best of us. Defender colors of our flag is our ultimate goal – defended the coach Appiah.

With the prize in his pocket, the team faces Ghana Portugal on Thursday, at 13h, the Mane Garrincha Stadium. The Black Stars must win by two goals difference and still hope for a German victory over the United States – match played at the same time, in the Pernambuco Arena – to get to the place in the quarter-final.