Minister Badjie Assures Bonus Paid To Players Would Finance Other Projects Should They Reject It

By Buba Gagigo

The Minister Of Youth and Sports said If the senior national team players reject the D11.1 match bonus government would finance other projects with it.

“This D11.1 million was actually not allocated in the budget that you will see bonus for senior team when we where doing a planning. These are resources that government have and because they qualified, we have gotten resources and put it there. But there are other projects that are on going that equally need money as well, there are other teams that also need support. We will use the money if they refuse to take it at all,” he explained.

The Minister however said they are looking forward to having a dialogue with the players on the matter before anything.

Asked whether he spoke to the players after the event, “no i did not talk to them. I don’t have a direct contact with the boys. I know some of them from way back but when it comes to the portfolio I don’t deal with them based on my position as a minister,” the Minister replied.

On whether the boys have a deserved motivation after qualifying the country, Badjie responded in the positive.

“Yes, I am impressed (with the motivation). The D11.1 million is what we have given. We don’t want to compare ourselves with other countries,” he said.

The Minister made these remarks at a press conference organised by his ministry on Wednesday afternoon.

The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) was contacted for comment but preferred to come up with a statement, than talking to the media.

President Adama Barrow has on Monday presented a cheque of D11.1M to the senior national team but none of the said players attended the event, according to a letter addressed to the federation president from the players.

The players are said to have declined the president’s invitation to receive the cheque in the said letter obtained and published by the BBC earlier on Monday.