MTN FA Cup: Finalists splash the cash

This year's FA Cup finalists, Ashanti Gold and New Edubiase United, are ready to splash the bucks to their respective players to get the best out of them in a fortnight. Edubiase have received a boost with a donation of a new 40-seater bus by their sponsors.

Not to be outdone, the Chief Executive of AshGold revealed that his team's winning bonuses will be doubled should the trophy go to the Ashanti Region. Kudjoe Fianoo said the gesture will be in appreciation of the lads' performance in the league as well as the FA Cup. AshGold are already the team that pays the most expensive winning bonuses in the Ghana Premier League, with every win rewarded with 400 Ghana cedis ($200 at today's rates).

"We have laid down a motivational package for the team and despite being the club which pays the highest winning bonus in the country, the Board has decided to double the bonus for Sunday's final," he said.

Double the bonus means each player gets 800 Ghana cedis ($400) and on paper, AshGold are favourites.

The Miners finished second at end of last season's league while Edubiase finished three places behind, but the Bekwai-side have also played well in the Cup thus far. The way Edubiase also got to the final, with ten men for most of their game with Wassaman United in the last game, means they will be hard to beat.

The rates for the final are also out: 2 cedis for the popular and Osu stands, 5 cedis for Lower and Upper VIP stands as well as 10 cedis for the VVIP stand. The sponsors of the tournament, MTN, will also give 1 cedi worth of credit to every spectator.

Last season's final result should inspire Edubiase, after unfancied Division One side Nania FC beat Kotoko at the same venue.

The Ghana Football Association had earlier called off the final, from Sunday to the new date of August 5, as the country mourns the passing of the President of the Republic.