Accra, Sept.4, GNA - Ghana's national women's soccer team, the Black Queens are to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday to begin a two-week training tour prior to their participation in the upcoming fourth Africa Women's Championship. The Government has therefore drawn up an incentive package to motivate the players and has accordingly increased their per diem allowances.

Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Minister of State in charge of Youth and Sports said this when he and his Deputy, Mr Joe Aggrey met a 27-member contingent of the Black Queens at his office on Friday. He said for the first, the per diem allowance for the two-week training tour of the players and their participation fees, which hitherto was 40 dollars a day has been substantially increased to 60 dollars and 80 dollars per day respectively.

A Press Release issued from the Minister's office copied to the GNA Sports said the players winning bonuses have also been graduated upwards to reflect the level of commitment government and the people of Ghana expect from the team.

Each player will be 9,000 dollars richer if the team win the championship apart from a total of over 2,500 dollars per diem allowance for each player.

Alhaji Rashid said that this year's competition is crucial because it is one of the sure hopes of achieving something significant for the nation after the reverses at the Olympics Games.

The Minister advised the players to eschew any acts of indiscipline and complacency and stressed the need for them to rather work as a team with determination, commitment and common purpose in order to return home victorious.

Alhaji Rashid told the Black Queens that the Ministry has done everything possible to ensure that the team is in the best shape for the competition.

He said that, "You must always remember the fact that nothing short of the cup or at least the runners-up position will be acceptable and you should put in your best performance to sustain the interest and support of the Ghanaian football lovers".

The Black Queens of Ghana have on two occasions placed second and placed third once in her three appearances at the African Women's championship and have this time round vowed to annex the ultimate. 04 Sept. 04