Black Stars poster boy, Andre Dede Ayew, and his captain, Asamoah Gyan, have justified the huge appearance fees and bonuses paid to the Black Stars, saying “all players don’t receive the same salary” and also because of what they claim is the complex nature of the African family settings.
Ayew was emphatic when he said that apart from a few high profile players among the team, many of his colleagues hardly earned attractive wages and, therefore, it was time Ghanaians understood the dynamics of players earnings.
"Even in Europe, we don’t receive the same salaries and wages, because the big boys earn as per their status and so it is everywhere," he told journalists at the Mikklin Hotel last Wednesday night.
And to back his teammate’s claims Gyan said, unlike Europe where a family consisted of a husband, his wife and children, the African setting was complex and diverse.
"Here in Africa and even in Ghana, one’s family could be traced to even his great grandfather and his friends and the demands are very high," said the Al-Ain striker.
“These monies are used to solve family problems and help societies, so it must not be seen as though we are unreasonable,’ the Al Ain player said.
An appearance fee of $100,000 paid to each Stars player became a topical issue among Ghanaians who contended the amount was astronomical, and the mode of disbursement of the money also raised a lot of eyebrows against the backdrop of challenging economic times in Ghana, but the players were resolute in their defence of the incentives paid to them, claiming they deserved it.
