Bonus wasn’t cause of Galaxies’ exit --- Tony Aubynn
The chairman of the Black Galaxies Management Committee, Dr Toni Aubynn, has refuted claims that a row over unpaid bonus contributed to the team's exit from the ongoing Championship of Africa Nations Tournament in Algeria.
The Galaxies crashed out in the quarter-finals following a 0-2 defeat to Niger, shattering their hopes of winning the tournament for the first time since its introduction in 2009.
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Dr Aubynn told Graphic Sports in an interview from Algeria yesterday that contrary to speculations that there was a row over money, the players were paid their outstanding bonuses and per diem, leaving them satisfied ahead of their quarter-final game.
''Absolutely nothing like that at all happened; all their money and per diems had been paid, the chairman confirmed to Graphic Sports and disclosed how distraught the entire management and playing body were after last Saturday’s loss.
Dr Aubynn said there was no need crying over spilt milk now that the team was out of the tournament but rather there was the need for introspection in order to correct where they might have faltered.
He attributed Ghana's defeat to the shambolic performance of the team as he had expected the players to do better.
He, however, admitted that such things were inevitable in football since a team could put up a bad performance on a day that one expected them to do their best.
He believed that rebuilding a more formidable team for the future must be the immediate focus of the nation.
''We need to pick up the pieces, redesign and rebuild. Let's not forget that this is football, sometimes your worst comes when you really need your best.
''But it's not doom and gloom. We need to rebuild this team, reinforce it with new players to be identified from the league. We have no option', he explained.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Committee member said Ghana's failure to win laurels at the tournament did not reflect a poor standard of the local league as some people had suggested because it was that same league that had produced some of the finest players like the Barniehs who were being pursued by top clubs abroad.
He also argued that it was the same league that produced players to form a team which beat Nigeria to qualify, taking solace in the fact that Cameroon also lost to Niger at the group stage.
''Not necessarily, otherwise it's the same league where some clubs are picking the Barniehs and others.
“Cameroun were also beaten by Niger. Countries like South Africa, Nigeria etc failed to qualify. Our team was simply shambolic on the day; it’s not a horrible team,” he said.