Ghana doesn't have the money to organize high profile friendlies, says deputy sports minister Joseph Yamin

By Ameenu Shardow

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Deputy Sports Minister Joseph Yamin insists Ghana lacks adequate funds to line up quality friendly matches against established teams.

The Black Stars will be facing the Netherlands and South Korea in two lined up friendly matches before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Many Ghanaians however wonder why the Black Stars are not usually engaged in first class friendly matches against some of the household teams in the world.

Deputy Sports Minister Joseph Yamin in interacting with fans during an outdoor sports program by Metro FM explains the financial required to organize such friendly matches are non-existent.

“There are processes and procedures to follow when fixing friendly matches,” he said.

“Some ask why we don’t play opponents like Argentina in friendly matches but it’s not that easy.

“To play a team like Argentina, I am told to have the full complement of the Argentinean team, [Lionel] Messi alone will take about $2m.

“So we are limited to getting fortunate to have Argentina rather invite us for a friendly.

“We don’t have the money to organize such friendly matches.

“The only time we get to play such opponents without paying anything is when we meet them at tournaments such as the World Cup.”