(From Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent in Egypt, Courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports)

Cairo, Oct. 12, GNA - Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Abdul Rashid Pelpuo has upped the winning bonus of Ghana's Black Satellites by 31.1 percent as part of efforts of the Ministry's bid to motivate the team for the finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup currently underway in Egypt.

The 31.1 percent increase will be across board and will begin from the group stage when the team was initially entitled to 1500 dollars to the final where they will earn 3500 dollars.

The Satellites go into semi final against Hungary at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday afternoon in a game that will determine their chance of appearing in the finals of the competition that has seen them as the only African representative at the apex of the finals and the Minister said they are dedicated towards motivating the team to fight all the way to achieve the ultimate.

Mr Pelpuo told GNA Sports that the review of the bonus is aimed at setting the right tone for the competition for which Ghana must win to emerge as the first African to have claimed the tournament's most honour. "We will support the team in every possible way to ensure they deliver their best against Hungary and ground out results and go ahead to win the Cup for Ghana and Africa as a whole."

Mr Pelpuo said the Ministry is piecing together the entire increase in good faith and insisted that the players will receive the top-up before the final game scheduled for the Cairo International Stadium on Friday. The Minister told GNA Sports that the team has earned an extra 1000 dollars for qualification to the quarter-finals of the competition and said the Ministry is collaborating with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to churn out other incentives that will further propel the team to achieve further laurels.

"The money is ready in Ghana and we will make sure the players get it before the final game and additionally, we are in talks with the GFA to ensure we get additional incentives to motivate the boys." An outstanding 2000 dollars bonus due the team from their African Championship in Rwanda glory has been paid to the players all in search of pepping them up for the gold.

Ghana are likely meet either Brazil or Costa Rica on Friday if they overcome Hungary on Tuesday.