Credible information gathered by The Chronicle as at press time last night, indicates that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will, this morning, dispatch letters to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Akua Sena Dansua, and the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Mr. Kwasi Nyantekyi, inviting them to explain how bonuses meant for Black Star players had delayed, and the allegation that the players rejected the money because it was being paid to them in cedis instead of dollars.

Black Stars head coach Milovan Rajevac has seven days to sign a new deal offered him by the Ghana Football Association or risk losing his job. The Serb’s initial two-year contract expired last month but he stayed on to guide the team make a flying start in their 2012 Nations Cup qualifier, beating Swaziland 3-0 last Sunday.

Asamoah Gyan has set for himself an ambitious target of competing for trophies for both club and country. The Ghana striker recently signed a club record deal that saw him join Sunderland from French side Rennes and is awaiting his debut game in the English league.

Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko coach Isaac Opeele Boateng has jumped to the defence of under-fire coach Ebo Mends after a false start in the Glo Premier League. Kotoko fans have intensified calls for the removal of Ebo Mends after opening day 1-0 defeat to Kessben FC at the Baba Yara Stadium.

Ghana’s Black Stars brushed aside a gritty Swazi side 3-0 to begin their 2012 Nations Cup campaign on a sumptuous note.
The Kings Shield were chasing their first appearance in the Nations Cup and looked determined to make a case against Africa’s World Cup heroes but it was Dede Ayew who started the Stars’ thumping with a delicate one-time touch to a cap a superb cross on the left by Kwodwo Asamoah.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac is confident Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien will return to international football early next year. Essien has just returned from a long lay-off after a cruciate ligament injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. The midfielder has now asked for time off international football to get back to his best form at club level.

President John Evans Atta Mills has sought permission from Fifa boss Sepp Blatter to set up a presidential commission of enquiry to investigate how the Ghana Football  Association uses funds given it by the government.

After several rounds of talks between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the nation’s football governing body, regarding the remuneration of the Black Stars, the road is now clear for the payment of the players’ bonuses.
A probe into the delay of the unpaid World Cup bonuses revealed that the players demanded that they are paid in hard currency (US dollars), as promised them before the Mundial in South Africa.

The Black Stars camp has been hit with some injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Swaziland in Mbabane. The Stars will miss the services of striker Matthew Amoah after he picked up an injury.
Midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng also sustained an ankle injury in training on Tuesday but expects to regain full fitness ahead of the match.

Ghana first choice goalkeeper Richard Kingson has joined newly-promoted English Premier League side Blackpool. The 32-year-old has been negotiating with the newly-promoted side for the past two weeks. Kingson joins the club on a free transfer after being released by rivals Wigan at the end of last season.