Queens Receive $1,000 Winning Bonus

Team is scheduled to arrive in Ghana on Thursday
Portland, Oregon, Oct. 1, GNA - Players of the women national soccer team, the Black Queens, each received a winning bonus of 1,000 dollars for their 2-1 historic victory over Australia in their final group D preliminary match on Sunday.

The Queens lost their opening two matches against group favourites China and Russia but bounced back to chalk a memorable 2-1 victory over Australia, which also happened to be the Ghanaian ladies first ever win at the World Cup.

Officials had promised each player 3,000 dollars should the Queens qualify for the next stage of the tournament, which unfortunately, they failed to achieve.

The Ghanaian ladies placed third in the four-team group from which China and Russia qualified for the quarterfinals. Skipper Alberta Sackey who was sidelined in the second group match against Russia made history for Ghana when she struck twice against Australia to give the Queens their first ever World Cup victory. In a related development, the Ghanaian community in Portland on Monday gave each player 150 dollars for the victory against Australia. Mr. James Tetteh, Chairman of the Community said the gift was in appreciation of the Queens' performance and more importantly the win against Australia.

He said the team has been a great source of pride to the community and urged the players not to lose hope but to psych themselves up for the next tournament.

Sackey whose two goals gave Ghana her first victory was given 1,000 dollars by one Mr Mattew Essiah and his family, members of the Community.

The Community also presented T-shirts and music Compact disc among items to the team.

Meanwhile, the team is scheduled to arrive in Ghana on Thursday by Ghana Airways.

(From: Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent in Portland, Oregon, USA)