Sports Minister Designate, Hon. Nii Lante Vanderpuije says no national team player will be begged to represent the country if they agitate for bonuses before playing for the national team.
The senior national team of late is always begged by authorities to play for the country but he says under hus administration will not beg any Black Stars player who is not ready to play for the senior national team over issues of winning bonuses.
President John Dramani Mahama had to intervene when the Black Stars refused to play in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil due to the delay in the payment of their appearance fee.
But Nii LanteyVanderpuije says no one will beg any player to do a service sacrosanct to the nation.
“Sometimes, you need to let people understand that this country cannot go down on its knees to beg a person to do one service or another,” the former boxing promoter told Starr FM.
The ex-GBC sports journalist also revealed that players were not begged to play the 2000 Africa Cup of nations when there was a rebellion in camp over bonuses.
“In the year 2000, when we co-hosted with Nigeria, just before our first game, I was with Alhaji Jawula, Nana Butler and the GFA people at the Presidency. I was with Professor Mills at that time, then Vice President.
“Then we heard some news that the players had embarked on some rebellion that they were not going to play the match if their allowances are not increased. So, the coach Osam Duodu and the rest were worried.
“We went there in the morning and shouted, who doesn’t want to play? We won’t pay so if you don’t want to play you can leave. We have players, those who want to play should pick up jerseys.
One or two players started picking up shirts and the rest started scrambling for the jerseys.” He revealed.
Nii Lantey Vanderpuije is the 8th sports minister under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration since 2009.
No More Begging Players - Nii Lantey
