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SPORTS philanthropist Michael Ezra yesterday
reiterated his commitment to Cranes’ cause
ahead of today’s decisive Africa Cup of
Nations Group 3 qualifier against lowly Niger.
Uganda must whip Niger by a convincing margin
to guarantee its berth at Africa's biggest socer
tournament for the first time in 30 years. Speaking
to Daily Monitor on phone from Kyrgyzstan, Ezra
said he will, as earlier promised, offer Cranes
$100,000 (Shs171m) should Uganda reach Ghana 2008.
If Cranes qualify, they will pocket the largest
bonus payment in Ugandan football history. But
in another show of benevolence, he has promised
to hand over $50,000 (Shs85.25m) to the national
team if qualification proves a hurdle too high.
“I’m praying that my offer of $100,000
is taken. I definitely want them to qualify and
I will support them very much on Saturday,”
Ezra said.
“But if they don’t qualify, it won't
be because they failed. It will be because there
was no such motivation from the onset and the
boys did all they could and failed. So that is
why I will hand them half of the original offer,”
he stressed.
Last month, Ezra dropped a bombshell when he
promised to reward the 16 players who will line
up today $5000 each, assistant coaches Polly Ouma
and Jackson Mayanja $2500 and head coach Lazslo
Csaba $15000 in the event that Uganda qualifies
for next year's Africa Cup of Nations.
“I do all this for sports loving Ugandans,
our country President and lastly for God to deliver
us through this historic moment.” “I’m
offering the entire team a reward each rather
than goal scorers because football, unlike track
and field, is a team sport. So I do not want to
create a situation of selfishness,” he added.
“The players will receive physical cash
in an open ceremony after all the hullabaloo has
gone down.”
The players are excited by the reward. "He
(Ezra) should be allowed to come to the dressing
room after the game to give us his offer after
our victory," a confident Batabaire said
while keeper Denis Onyango wants the players to
meet Ezra personally to thank him for his gesture.
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