<<Print>>

Ghana's preparation towards next week's African Cup of Nations is teetering on the brink of collapse after players refused to travel to Swaziland for Tuesday's warm-up against Malawi in a raucous row over bonuses for the friendly. The Black Stars were scheduled to arrive in Swaziland on Monday night but they were still holed-up in their training camp base in South Africa on Tuesday morning over the ugly row. The disturbing piece of news comes just SIX DAYS before the Black Stars play their opening game at the tournament against Togo. The bonus row, which is now similar to the infamous Togo antics at the 2006 World Cup, has now left the game in Mbabane in doubt. "I don�t know when we will leave for Swaziland because of this bonus problem. It is disturbing our concentration and preparations for the Nations Cup,� a Black Stars player told Ghanasoccernet on the condition of anonymity. The presence of injured charismatic captain Stephen Appiah is urgently needed in camp as he has in the past consistently managed to douse similar rows to the satisfaction of both players and the Ghana Football Association. The current leaders in camp have been unable to adopt diplomatic approach of Appiah and his assistant John Mensah while the Nations Cup captain Michael Essien is yet to join the team. Ghanasoccernet can authoritatively report that the row has been simmering over the past four days after the players were told that they will not receive any bonuses for playing in the game. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) told the players that they will not earn anything from the game which seems to have infuriated the senior players in the squad. While it is not the norm for players to be paid bonuses in preparation matches towards a major tournament, the squad members seem to have been informed that the GFA will earn some cash from the game which prompted the action from the players. But some officials of the GFA are said to have been flown from Accra to South Africa to help extinguish the stand-off and travel across the border for the game. While some have branded the players as traitors who are only keen on cashing in rather than serving their country,others say the players have the right to demand their pound of flesh if the GFA gains some cash from the game. It is not known if Ghana has agreed the bonuses for the players during the African Cup of Nations. But the issue of money if not checked could disrupt Ghana�s campaign at the tournament and shame the country the way Togo were disgraced at the 2006 World Cup. Ghana faces a tough challenge at the Nations Cup as they take on Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Togo in Group B.