Government says it cannot continue to pay huge sums of money to each member of the playing body of the Black Stars anytime they feature in major tournaments.
According to Youth and Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the practice of increasing appearance fee for the team before the players feature in major tournaments, is “not sustainable”.
The team had demanded the payment of $100,000 to each member of the playing body against the $75,000 they were paid during the 2010 world cup tournament in South Africa. Cabinet however decided to maintain the same figure ahead of the 2014 tournament to be staged this June in Brazil.
Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, Tuesday, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah said although the players are yet to communicate their acceptance of the figure, what has been approved by cabinet “is non-negotiable”.
He added, the issue of appearance fee needs to be discussed thoroughly. This should however, happen after the impending world cup tournament which is just a couple of months away, the Minister suggested.
“Going forward, all of us need to take a second look at this whole appearance fee business,” he said.
“…It’s definitely not sustainable and we cannot go on increasing appearance fee every world cup (year). So that discussion and debate have to occur” Mr. Afriyie Ankrah emphasised.
Meanwhile, Mr. Afriyie Ankrah has dismissed allegations of interferance in the work of Akwasi Appiah, head coach for the Black Stars ahead of the tournament.
There were rumours suggesting there were schemes to appoint Milovan Rajevac as the Technical Director of the Black Stars ahead of the World Cup. Appiah had served under Rajevac as Assistant coach in the 2010 world cup.
But the Minister said government has an unwavering confidence in the coach and is prepared to offer him the needed support to enable the team succeed in Brazil.
“Kwasi appiah is our coach, we have confidence in him…we have told him to bring a programme of whatever he needs to succeed..I’ve not received any communication about ‘Milo or Bournvita’ or anything…We are ready to give the coach whatever assistance he wants but it must be his request”.
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