FA wants more cash after Ministry cuts
by Gary Al-Smith 03 January 2013, 11:49
The Ghana FA are have had a series of meetings aimed at securing more money for the pursuit of a fifth Africa Cup of Nations crown in South Africa, supersport.com understands.
The country's football governing body requested $8 million for preparations and the tournament proper, a situation which drew an outcry from the football public. Subsequently, the Ministry of Sports slashed the amount to be approved by half, supersport.com has been told by an official.
As a result, $4 million is what is available for the FA in its quest to conquer Africa for the first time since 1982, but sources say the amount will not be enough.
Chasing the paper
Supersport.com can report that there have been three meetings already between the FA and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), as Kwesi Nyantakyi leads talks for sponsorship from the state-owned company.
An announcement is scheduled to be made in the coming days by the FA, which will detail how much the body is taking in total to the UAE and South Africa.
The appearance fees for players as well as allocations for media relations have both been scrapped. An unprecedented 8 million dollars (GH¢15 million) had been requested by the Ghana Football Associaition for preparations towards ending the country's trophy drought at the next African Cup of Nations in South Africa.
The tournament proper takes place from January 19 to February 20, and the Ghana FA wanted $6.66 million to help in the trophy charge. Before then, Team Ghana have a scheduled pre-tournament camping in Abu Dhab from January 7-18, which was billed to cost $1.06 million. It is not clear how much the new budget has made available for that venture.
