Queens on siege at M-Plaza

Gold-winning Black Queens players are fuming with rage, swearing fire and brimstone, never to vacate the M-Plaza Hotel in Accra until their $11,000 each in oustanding bonuses had been paid.

The Queens have flatly turned down government’s $2,000 bonus offer for winning gold at the All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo since they moved in last Sunday, insisting that they be paid $23,00 each, including their outstanding bonuses.

As at press time yesterday, the highly-determined players and officials of the female senior national team were still lodging at the Accra-based facility, without any trace of budging.

A source close to the team, however, disclosed that the players were only demanding their due for their spectacular performance at the Games.

The source explained that though the government’s initial package for the team for winning gold was $5,000, officials of the team had to renegotiate with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, when the players threatened to boycott the semi-final match against Cote d’Ivoire.

It said officials impressed upon the Minister to agree with a $3,000 qualification bonus proposal for both the semi-finals and final, aside the government’s package for the team in case of a gold win.

According to the source, that is the package the players are demanding now.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Otor Plahar, in a response to the impasse has appealed to the Black Queens to vacate the M-Plaza Hotel in order to avoid incurring more debts for the ministry.

"We tried to pay them $2,000 per player for winning gold last Wednesday but they rejected it," Mr Plahar said yesterday.

He continued, "We have appealed to them to go home because we don't have the money they are demanding and the Ministry will incur more debts as long as they remain at the hotel".

He urged the players to be circumspect and avoid putting undue pressure on the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Graphic Sports checks revealed that a night spent in the double room of the hotel costs GH¢570 while the twin-room goes for GH¢800 per night.