This is shameful!

IT is often said that a nation that does not honour its heroes and heroines is not worth dying for. We believe that Ghana is not that type of country that will not recognize and reward her heroes for lifting the Ghana flag high.

HOWEVER, we at TODAY are appalled by a report in the November 3, 2009 edition of the GRAPHIC SPORTS, which indicates that Black Satellites World Cup winning coach, Sellas Tetteh, and his Deputy, Orlando Wellington, have declined to accept the Ministry of Youth and Sports bonus packages during the tournament.

THE decision of the two coaches, according to the news item, was based on the fact that their colleague technical members were not part of the package offered by the sports ministry. The Sports Minister, Honourable Rashid Pelpuo's, explanation that his outfit's decision was communicated to the playing team and the two coaches is neither here nor there.

WE are very disappointed that instead of rewarding both the playing body and the technical members, whose efforts also played an instrumental role to making Ghana the proud winners of the recent Under-20 tournament in Egypt, our leaders are sidelining them. In whichever way we look at it, we must appreciate that against all odds and the likes of Brazil, Spain Hungry etc., both the Ghana playing body and the technical brains were at work to make sure Ghana returned home with the ultimate—the trophy.

FOR us at TODAY, we share in the opinion of all well meaning Ghanaians that the success of the Black Satellites in Egypt was just not limited to the playing team, but the technical bench as well, including the masseur, the welfare officer and the physiotherapist.

AND, for this reason, TODAY is of the firm belief that they all need to be rewarded with whatever packages lined up by the government and even corporate organizations and philanthropists who are willing to reward hard work and excellence.

THEREFORE, as a nation we should not be seen as a people who would not want to reward our heroes and heroines. We hope that the sports ministry will reconsider its decision, and ensure that every member of the Ghana contingent is rewarded and recognized.

BY the actions of the Ministry, it is obvious that only coaches and our national teams who win laurels are the ones who will be rewarded. No, that is unacceptable and must not become part and parcel of us. We must show that we are a people who show appreciation when any of our people brings glory to the country.

IN this respect, we urge the Ministry of Sports to ensure that not only the two coaches and the playing team are rewarded, but all those who, in diverse ways, contributed to bringing the trophy to mother Ghana. Let us show appreciation and not be seen as a country that does not honour her heroes/heroines.

Originating at www.theghanaianjournal.com