VENTURES AFRICA – The
Algerian national team reportedly look set to turn down bonuses for
their excellent World Cup campaign which is rumoured to be around $9
million.
According to quotes making the rounds on
social media, Algeria’s star striker Islam Slimani has indicated that
the team has agreed to donate the World Cup bonuses to the people of
Gaza stating that ‘they need it more than us’.
If true, the news is in stark contrast with
the disturbing events in the camps of other African countries at the
World Cup especially Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria, all of whom had well
publicized squabbles over the non-payment of World Cup bonuses with
threats of strike action and the occasional boycott of training sessions
despite having to play important matches at the World Cup.
In the camp of the Ghana national team, the
situation appeared to be a lot worse than imagined thus prompting
Ghana’s government toairlift $3 million
in cash to the team’s base in Brazil a day before the crucial final
group game against Portugal in Brasilia. The choice of sending the money
in cash via planes and a motorcade was met with amusement in Brazil and
prompted questions on Africa’s distrust of electronic banking options.
The generosity of the Algerian team, if the
choice to donate all of their bonuses is confirmed to be true, is bound
to win them more admirers off the pitch across the world as they have
clearly won hearts with the brilliant football on the pitch.
The national team, fondly called Fennec
Foxes, landed at the Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers
to a red carpet welcome led by Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and
Sports Minister Mohamed Tahmi
The Sports Minister commended the
performance of the team who are widely regarded as Africa’s best team at
the tournament. “Everybody is happy in Algeria and proud of the
national team because of the way they performed at the World Cup,” Tahmi
said.
“And we are not talking about just the game
against Germany. The Fennec played very well against Belgium and South
Korea as well,” he added.
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