Winneba, (C/R) May 1, GNA - The Government has completed the necessary arrangements for the payment of allowances and bonus to players and the technical team of the Under 17 National Team, the Black Starlets before they leave for Gambia on Tuesday for the Sixth African Under-17 Youth championship.

The Deputy Minister of Education Youth And Sports, Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah said this when he met the Technical Team and players of the Starlets at their training Camp at the Winneba National Sports College on Saturday.

The Minister who was accompanied by Dr. Owusu Ansah, Director of Sports told them that the visit was to afford them the opportunity of learning at first hand how prepared the team was for the tournament and also to give them moral support.

Mr. Amoah told the technical team and the players that payment of money passes through many channels, hence the delay in the payment of their bonuses and allowances.

The Minister urged the players to be disciplined because no national team would engage and feature an indiscipline player. The Minister appealed to the technical team to ensure that they channelled their needs to the Minister instead of going to the Press and that they should also ensure that they speak through their heads as a collective body.

The Director of the National Sports College, Mr. Dominic Asabia appealed to the players to work harder to qualify for the World tournament.

Mr Asabia told them not to forget that when they play hard and qualify to the next stage, the credit goes to them first before the nation.

Mr. David Duncan behalf of the technical team and players commended Government for the quick response to the payment of the arrears of their allowance and bonus.

He assured Ghanaians that they are going to qualify to the next stage of the tournament, adding that, "We are surely out to win our first match with Mali on Sunday and continue with it to the end. According to the head Coach, other teams in Ghana's group were Burkina Faso and Gambia.

Coach Duncan said that they are taking twenty players to the Gambia, adding that there are no injuries presently with the team. The captain of the team, Mr. Emmanuel Anson also gave the assurance that the players have determined to play hard to qualify at the tournament.