Sports
Locker Room Bonus increment can improve performance
The news of an increment in the novelty Locker Room Bonus for Ghana Premier League (GPL) players is surely a positive one for many of them, if not all.
It gives credence to the belief or adage that every beginning is difficult, but it gets easier from there on.
It has generated excitement among the players who are the main beneficiaries of this initiative from the Premier League sponsors, betPawa.
What this means is that from an initial amount of GhȻ150.00 paid to every single player captured on the Team Sheet of winning teams via MoMo, players are now set to receive GHȻ400.00 each as winning bonuses.
That is to compliment what their respective clubs pay as winning bonuses.
But what is been acclaimed today was a huge subject for contention with betPawa on one side and the clubs, and by extension their umbrella body, the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) on another side.
One even wondered why clubs should raise objections over such a laudable idea which in the long term will ease pressure of paying bonuses to players on them.
But to be fair, the position of the clubs was not to oppose the idea but its modus operandi.
The clubs wanted to be recipients of this money and disburse to players instead of allowing a betting company to have such important details like players registered phone numbers and deal with them directly.
Some of the fears the clubs harboured were not misplaced, though especially in an era where betting syndicates have got the flak for influencing games even in more advanced leagues.
The story is not different in Ghana where clubs have been demoted for their involvement match-fixing.
And, guided by the history of clubs and payments of such bonuses, betPawa stood their grounds and finally, it kick-started and just a year after, it has been increased.
This is a good move worth commending. It will not just promote competition among the teams that would be striving to win match after match.
Among the players, it will also promote a healthy competition since it will apply to only players that form the match day squad.
Players can also make a lot of money within a month, even more than what they are paid by their respective clubs, if they are able to embark on a winning spree.
It is therefore the more reason why partners of the league must work together to maintain this collaboration to ensure competition among players and clubs to make the league attractive to the fans as well.
The level of competition in the league has been a major headache for stakeholders in recent times and is reflecting in the performances of the clubs in Africa.
It has taken Ghanaian clubs years and counting to start performing in Africa club championships to force the hands of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to restore the two slots each allotted Ghana in club competitions.
The player exodus is also yet to be curtailed because the local league is still not attractive enough for selectors of the Black Stars.
Players must still play abroad before standing any chance to don the Black Stars jersey. Those that are given the chance just go to warm the bench.
But such initiatives can go a long way to restore player confidence since football is driven by laurels ad huge financial motivations that comes with it. Kudo to betPawa.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Black Starlets arrives in Morocco on U-17 AFCON mission …FA boss charges team to make Ghana proud
The Black Starlets, the national U-17 male team, have safely arrived in Casablanca ahead of the 2026 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The team departed Accra on Wednesday, travelling with a 35-man contingent made up of 21 players and 14 officials, all focused on delivering a strong campaign on the continental stage.
They completed a smooth five-hour flight to Morocco, where final preparations will continue before the tournament kicks off.
The technical team is expected to fine-tune tactics and build cohesion among the squad as they gear up for the competition.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Mr Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, was present at the Accra International Airport to bid farewell to the team.
Speaking during a brief farewell at the Airport, the FA President urged the team to carry a ‘never say die’ spirit into the competition.
President Simeon-Okraku emphasised the importance of mental strength and unity, particularly in difficult moments during matches. His message was inspired by the team’s recent friendly encounters against Cote d’Ivoire, where they bounced back strongly after an initial defeat.
“I’m very happy that when you lost to Cote d’Ivoire in your first game during your friendly matches, you were able to bounce back—not only to dominate but to outscore them in the second game,” he said. “I read a lot of meaning into that, and I want all of you to keep that in your heads—that, it’s not over until it’s all over,” he added.
The FA president stressed that the ability to respond positively to setbacks would be crucial in a tournament as competitive as the AFCON.
He encouraged the players to stay united and support one another when the pressure intensifies on the continental stage.
“When the chips are down, that’s when we need to hold each other together,” Okraku added. “So go out there and make Ghana proud.”
Ghana will compete in Group D alongside Algeria, Senegal, and South Africa, with their opening match scheduled for Thursday, May 14.
Twenty-three (23) players have been called up for this month’s international friendly against Mexico.
The squad is composed of star players from the domestic league and European leagues who are closely monitored by Coach Carlos Queiroz, as well as U-23 players who will soon represent Ghana in the upcoming Olympic Games qualifiers.
Notable names include Majeed Ashimeru, Felix Afena-Gyan, Razak Simpson, and Birmingham City’s Ibrahim Osman.
Ashimeru returns to action after a long spell on the sidelines due to a muscle injury that limited his appearances at both club and national level.
Also in the team is Felix Afena-Gyan, whose last appearance for Ghana was in May last year when he featured against Trinidad and Tobago in the Unity Cup in London.
Barcelona B’s Abdul Aziz Issah, Ebenezer Annan of AS Saint-Étienne, Ibrahim Osman of Birmingham City, and Paul Reverson of Ajax FC have also been included in the squad.
Midfielder Salim Adams, one of the key players for Ghana Premier League leaders Medeama SC, leads the group of home-based players.
Others are Heart of Lions’ Ebenezer Abban, Ebenezer Adade of Dreams FC, and Nations FC captain Razak Simpson. Ghana will travel to Mexico for the international friendly on Friday, May 22, 2026.
