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Locker Room Bonus increment can improve performance
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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
Just a few years ago, Zinabu Issah’s life revolved around her small trading business, and competing in sports was not on her mind.
Today, the Ghanaian para-athlete stands proudly as a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, proving that determination, hard work and perseverance can transform lives in unimaginable ways.
Issah, who competes in the shot put, javelin and discus events, recalls how her journey began unexpectedly when Coach Emmanuel Sowah Anum approached her and encouraged her to try para-sports.
“I had no intention of doing any sport. I was a petty trader and one day my coach approached me and told me to take up the sport. When he first said it, I laughed because sports was not my thing.
“But he was persistent and eventually convinced me to take up the sport,” she told GNA Sports in an interview.
According to Zinabu, her decision was met with resistance from some family members and friends who questioned why a woman living with a disability would pursue field events.
She faced a lot of stereotypes and criticism, which could easily have discouraged her, but she decided to stay focused on achieving success.
“He (Coach) told me he had seen something in me and believed I could excel in the sport,” she said while expressing gratitude to her coach.
“I want to thank God first of all and also thank my coach for believing in me,” she added.
Her coach, Emmanuel Sowah in an interview, revealed that he spotted Zinabu in Kumasi in 2014 and admitted that life was very difficult for her at the time.
“I saw something in her. I knew I could make her a better field athlete despite her disability, and I personally bought her first training kit. Over the past years, she has developed impressively,” he said.
Coach Sowah said he believes Zinabu can achieve even more and hopes she can step up at the next Paralympic Games, which he is confident she will qualify for.
The road from being a trader to competing in shot put, discus and javelin has been remarkable.
Zinabu has featured in numerous international tournaments, most notably winning gold at the 2024 Paralympic Games Qualifiers Grand Prix in Marrakech, Morocco.
The success earned her recognition, including an award at the 9th Women in Sports Association (WISA) Awards, a moment she says significantly boosted her confidence and motivation.
Her latest achievement came at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she delivered a season-best throw of 8.65 metres to secure silver in the women’s F57 shot put.
That was Ghana’s first medal of the Games and, according to Zinabu, the victory has changed perceptions within her family.
“Ever since my winning moment at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, my family have praised my exploits, and I am excited about that.
“My junior sister, who in the past told me to stop and promised to give me money to start a new business, is today excited about my achievement,” she said.
With her sights now firmly set on the 2028 Paralympic Games, Zinabu is determined to continue breaking barriers.
“I am preparing for the Paralympics, and I am optimistic of qualification. My target is to go for the gold medal,” she said.
For Zinabu, the journey from being a petty trader to a Commonwealth Games medalist is more than a personal triumph is a story of resilience, belief and the power of giving opportunity a chance. –GNA
The Angel Starlight Foundation (ASF) last Friday presented assorted food items to learners and management of the Street Academy, a sports and cultural organisation in Accra.
Mrs Angel Addo, Founder of the NGO made the donation as part of her birthday celebration.
She presented bags of rice, beans, maize, gallons of cooking oil, biscuits, drinks, soap and toilet rolls.
“This is a yearly ritual for me; choosing to celebrate my birthday with children of the Academy. They are very dear to my heart,” she told the Spectator.
She said “these are underprivileged children who through no fault of theirs find themselves on the streets but have been fortunate to be picked by the Academy and are receiving care.”
He urged government and corporate Ghana to also support the Academy in order to support such children who are offered formal education and trained in skilled programmes.
Receiving the items, Dr Ataa Lartey, Founder of the Academy thanked the Foundation for the gesture which he said would go a long way to ease the burden of the Academy.
In another development, the Academy will host its annual health walk today.
The event would attract children from the Academy and those from neighbouring communities and keep fit enthusiasts.
By Spectator Reporter
