I hope that media reports that the Black Queens have resolved not to honour their 2024 Olympic Games qualifier at home to Zambia if their bonuses are not paid are untrue. The Black Queens host the Copper Queens of Zambia on Friday at the Accra Sports Stadium in the penultimate round of qualifiers.
A win would enhance their chances of overcoming the Zambian hurdle in the return match next Wednesday. With triumph at this stage, the Black Queens can expect a sterner test with either Tunisia or Morocco to be at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Bigger is the task for our ladies that they must not allow money to derail their aim particularly when they have worked so diligently, and so hard to reach here. Let us face it. A revolt over their unpaid bonuses must not be entertained. Not at this time regardless of how frustrating the state’s disrespect for them might be.
Yes, if it is not contempt for the women, the state will not dilly-dally on their bonus arrears of US$270,000 or more – covering Olympic Games and Women’s African Cup of Nations qualifiers. The state will not sleep over the Black Stars qualification bonus for even a week, not to talk of five months in the case of the Black Queens.
For Black Stars, despite the austere economic period Ghana finds itself in, a budget of US$8.5million was raised, and US$3million was spent on players and officials in about three weeks. What is worse, the Black Stars only embarrassed the nation at tourneys.
But, Black Queens, who have strived to bring smiles to the faces of fans under coach Nora Nauptle, have had to wait endlessly for their deserved bonuses. If it is not utter disregard for the Black Queens, why does the state use the national women’s football account to transact Black Stars business of millions of dollars yet reluctantly pay the women footballers?
The Black Queens must be paid and paid in full. Unless it was mere political rhetoric to quieten ruffled nerves, GFA Executive Committee member, Dr. Gifty Oware Mensah knew what she was doing when she emphatically said that the Queens would be paid their bonuses before they host Zambia.
We have 48 hours to the match. That is enough time to clear the bonuses of US$270,000 spanning three matches: two in the WAFCON qualifiers and the other in the Olympic Games qualifiers. Let leadership live up to their talk lest their credibility suffers, and the disappointment of the Black Queens lingers on.
It is total disrespect. Please, pay the Black Queens.