Sports News of Friday, 2 August 2013

Source: GNA

Satellites demand unpaid bonus

The 21-member Black Satellites squad will soon receive their bonus for their bronze medal conquest at the recent FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

The Satellites beat Iraq 3-0 in the third placed match to win the first bronze for Ghana in the competition, but have been awaiting their bonuses since their arrival in July 14.

According to sources, the team received $9,000 for qualification to play in the second round of the competition and were further rewarded with $3,500 each for qualifying for the quarter-finals and semi-finals after beating Portugal and Chile respectively.

But the Ministry of Youth and Sports says it is considering a bonus package for the Black Satellites’ bronze feat at the recent FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

The team received no bonus for placing third, though all their bonuses have been cleared.

Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the Minister of Youth and Sports, told GNA Sports that discussions were underway towards arriving at a package for the team.

He said “no provision was made for third place in the budget. We have to look at it again. It is still under discussion.”

He explained that the silence on the package was not to discourage third place at the expense of the ultimate.

“We have paid all the bonus till the semi-finals,” he disclosed.