Hearts to chase pending 2013/14 league season reward
Hearts of Oak have claimed that the Premier league Board did not honour a statutory monetary pledge to them two years ago.After placing third in the 2013/14 First Capital Plus Premier League season, a cash prize due the Accra club was not paid. That’s according to the team’s Administrative Manager, Hackman Aidoo.“We realized that the FA and First Capital Plus Bank want to take us for granted, because they have refused to pay the prize money for placing third last season,” he said.That season, Kotoko won the crown for the third straight year while Heart of Lions came second. The Phobians were second runners-up.And now, ahead of the impending Premier League Board awards for this year, Hearts will expect some recognition for placing fourth, but not before the previous pledge is redeemed.“After waiting for some time we went to First Capital Plus Bank to request for our money, but they told us payment has been made to the PLB. However, the PLB also said otherwise, so we were confused about what the truth of the matter was, compelling us to write to the GFA for clarification, but they failed to respond. “[Hearts of Oak] will write to the GFA the last time to demand for the GHS 10,000 prize money for placing third, but if they think there is no need to pay the money they should tell us.“We are giving them up to the next awards night, because it was during a similar awards night that a dummy cheque was presented to us, so we will send our officers to collect the money during the next awards night”.Hearts finished fourth in the just-ended campaign.–
Argentine goalkeeper Julian Speroni has told talkSPORT Lionel Messi deserved the World Cup Golden Ball award, despite widespread criticism over FIFA’s choice of winner.Germany became the first European team to win the World Cup on South American soil following a 1-0 extra-time victory over La Albiceleste in Sunday’s final, but a large group of the football community were outraged as the Argentina skipper was named the tournament’s best player.Top scorer James Rodriguez, the Golden Boot winner having netted six goals in five games for an impressive Colombia side, was one of the favourites for the accolade, along with Germany’s Thomas Muller and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.And while fellow stopper Speroni believes Neuer would have been a worthy winner after superb campaign, the Crystal Palace man insisted national hero Messi was just as deserving of the award.“I don’t get the opposition,” he told Drivetime. “He didn’t have a bad tournament at all, I think he had a very good World Cup.“But obviously because it’s Messi, and because of what he’s done at Barcelona, everyone expects magic from him every time he steps onto the pitch.“Overall Messi had a great campaign, he scored four goals and took Argentina to the final.“Other players had great World Cup too, and personally I would have given it to Neuer who was outstanding, but they gave the award to Messi and I think that was quite fair, he deserved it.”