Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has confirmed that his Ministry does not have the funds to purchase tickets for foreign-based players who have been invited for the Ghana-Rwanda Nations Cup qualifier on September 3.
With Ghana having already secured qualification for Gabon 2017, Mr Vanderpuye said the Ministry’s focus was now on the upcoming Paralympics in Brazil and the Black Maidens’ participation in the women’s U-17 World Cup.
“We have not officially communicated anything to anyone. I have informed by telephone the leadership of the Black Stars Management Committee that we do not have the money to pay for the tickets. We are focusing on the Rio 2016 Paralympics and the preparations for the ladies’ U-17 World Cup where the Black Maidens are likely to participate. They should ask their coach to review the technical approach to this match,” he told Class Sports.
He called on the FA to fund the tickets of the players if they had the means to do so.
“If the GFA has the money to buy tickets for the players, they can do so. The money we have would be used for the Paralympic team and the Black Maidens,” he added.
Meanwhile, Communications Director of the GFA, Ibrahim Saanie Daara, has confirmed to Class Sports that the invited players have decided to bear the cost of their airfare.
“The players have stepped in to save the situation…they would do it regardless of the difficulty,” he said.
The Black Stars play Rwanda in their final CAN 2017 qualifier on Saturday, September 3, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
