The Ghana Premier League (GPL) has seen a remarkable transformation with the introduction of the Locker Room Bonus initiative, which has revolutionized the way players are rewarded for their on-field success.
In the second season of this groundbreaking program, a total of 490 GPL players from 17 of the division’s 18 teams have tasted the instant gratification of the Locker Room Bonus. A staggering GH¢1.23 Million was distributed throughout the campaign, with only Asante Kotoko opting not to participate.
The Locker Room Bonus, which was launched during the 2022/23 GPL season, aims to celebrate winning squads with immediate payouts – an experience that betPawa customers are already familiar with. For the 2023/24 season, the amount paid out per player has more than doubled, increasing from GH¢150 to GH¢400.
“It sat well with us and the vision that we have, it has added a lot of competition during training,” said Paul Ayamba, the Business Development Manager of FC Samartex.
The Locker Room Bonus is paid directly to the mobile money accounts of every player on the squad list, immediately after a win and before the players leave the stadium.
“We have always sought to go beyond assisting sport management bodies in administration costs of the game to giving more to the players in terms of direct benefits as a way to motivate and celebrate them further,” said Nii Armah Ashong-Katai, the Country Marketing Manager of betPawa Ghana.
The captivating campaign culminated in an impressive maiden championship for FC Samartex 1996, a team that was only promoted to the GPL for the first time 2 years ago. They defeated Accra Lions 2-0 to cap off an incredible season, having finished 10th on their top-flight debut a year earlier.
The Locker Room Bonus initiative is not limited to the Ghana Premier League. It is also currently active in multiple competitions in Rwanda and Uganda as part of betPawa’s partnerships with the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA), the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA), and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA).