Chief Executive Officer for DataBank Group, Kojo Addae Mensah, says he does not side with Ghanaians who have come up with criticisms of Black Stars players being paid.
In recent times, some section of Ghanaians have questioned the need to pay players who play for the national team, something that has been the norm for many years now – citing that being paid to play for the national team means one is not patriotic.
However, Kofi Addae Mensah has rubbished such discussions as he claims such conversations are in appropriate and does not mean players are not patriotic.
Speaking to Kumasi-based Ashh FM, the Databank Group CEO said: “The fact that a player is patriotic does not mean you do something for free – I disagree with that notion. Patriotism is not free, playing football is the job of the player so he needs to be paid.”
“Members of Parliament and DCEs all serve the country and at the end of the month they are paid, it’s not free. Why then do we leave the players when they are faced with injuries? Does that mean we are not patriotic too?,” he question.
Kofi Addae Mensah went on to mention the case of former Black Stars player Jerry Akaminko, who has reportedly been neglected since picking up an injury prior to the 2010 World Cup.
