Players of the senior national team, Black Stars, are greedy and do not need the winning bonuses paid to them from government coffers, former Sports Minister Malam Isa has said.

The issue of whether or not the players should be paid bonuses to play for the senior national team has been an ongoing debate since the team’s dismal campaign at the World Cup in Brazil 2014.

Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye has given the indication on countless occasions that he will slash the winning bonuses of the team. Speaking to Class Sports, Mr Isa said the players are greedy.

“I am sorry to say, but the truth is that the players are very greedy. They just don’t need the money. What would $10,000 do to Asamoah Gyan, who is one of the highest paid footballers in the world? The bitter truth is that some of them spend it lavishly on their girlfriends and other needless expenses. I am hoping for an opportunity to address them, and I will not mince words because I will tell them as it is”, he stated

Asked whether home-based players also spend their bonuses the same way foreign-based players do as he alleged, Mr Isa said: “As for the locally-based players, it is understandable they may need the bonuses, but they can also use the national team to launch themselves onto a bigger platform. Their foreign-based colleagues could also help them stand on their feet.”