Captain Asamoah Gyan has assured the bonus row that rocked the Ghana camp at the 2014 World Cup will not repeat itself at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars are in the home stretch of their preparations ahead of the tournament which will be staged in Equatorial Guinea from January 15.
The Black Stars struggled throughout its qualifying campaign as the team continued to suffer from the after-effects of their disappointing showing at the World Cup in Brazil.
Ghana’s campaign at its third straight World Cup finals was marred by money and disciplinary issues.
The situation threatened to recur in Equatorial Guinea when the Sports Ministry announced major changes in the bonus structure of the team.
It was feared that the players will be unhappy with changes and reject the Ministry’s new offer of paying a flat amount of $5000 for games at the 2015 AFCON regardless of the result.
Asamoah Gyan was engaged by officials of the Black Stars management committee to discuss the new pay structure on behalf of the entire Black Stars team during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
The Al Ain ace confirmed the players are in agreement of the changes made to the Black Stars’ bonus structure.
“Before we didn’t know [new bonus structure] until we heard from the press but during these holidays we had to sit down with the [GFA] board and trash out some issues – talking about the bonuses,” he said.
“We don’t want the Brazil issue to get into our head now – we have to trash this issue before we go to the tournament.
“Everything went on successfully, we are happy – everything has been resolved.
“We are not thinking about any money issues now, what we are thinking about is the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We want to prove to people it is not about the money, we are just here to die for the nation as Ghanaians.
“So far I think the players are happy with the money issue and everything has been resolved.”
The Black Stars captain assured the shameful episode in Brazil will not repeat itself in Equatorial Guinea.
“Definitely, I have apologized to the public and it is not going to be an issue again,”
“What happened in Brazil discouraged a lot of Ghanaians and they lost a lot of hope in the Black Stars but I promise it will not happen again.
“No money issues for now, everything has been resolved and what we are thinking about now is the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.”
For more Ghana football news visit www.ghanasoccernet.com
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.
