Soccer fans will be left choking on their pints after Guinness revealed they’re giving Cameroon cash to beat Ireland in the World Cup.
One of the brewery’s African subsidiaries announced $1,000 will go to the player who does most damage in the match against Keano and Co on June 1.
The offer will shock Irish fans who believed the black stuff was fully behind Mick McCarthy’s men. Guinness Cameroon’s managing director Brian Johnson said: « We are delighted with the offer from our head office because we believe Cameroon can win the World Cup.
« It is entirely appropriate that Guinness should motivate the national team to bring out the power in them.
« The current team, under Rigobert Song’s strong leadership, is the best team Cameroon has ever had. »
Guinness are also offering $1million to any African team that can lift the World Cup in Japan and Korea next month.
They are already paying $5,000 to each member of the squad for qualifying for the finals. And the best player in each of Cameroon’s games will earn $1,000 while the team will get $5,000 for progressing beyond the first round. The money goes up to $10,000 if they reach the semi-finals and $15,000 if they make it to the final.
To complete the list of incentives, Guinness will pay the team one cent for every bottle of stout sold during the World Cup.
Irish fans are expected to down hundreds of thousands of pints during the tournament. There will even be a tented Guinness Village for them in Tokyo.
Guinness’ African subsidiary has left Irish tipplers confused about just where the Black Stuff’s loyalties lie. It’s not the first time the brewers have offered big payouts to spur Cameroon’s sportsmen to victory.
They offered incentives to the country’s athletes competing at the Sydney Olympics
World Cup-bound members of the Green Army expressed outrage yesterday on hearing the news of the incentives.
Dubliner Marcus Howlett, the winner of the Daily Mirror’s search for Ireland’s greatest fan, said: « I’m in shock. Every Irishman worth his salt drinks Guinness.
« To think they’re backing other teams to beat us is very disappointing. We are their main market.
« I can understand maybe the business sense behind it, but Guinness should make up for it by giving the fans over there a few free pints.
« All will be forgiven if they put on a free night after the years of support us fans have shown for Guinness.
« Not that it’s going to put me or my friends off the black stuff.
« We will stay loyal to our national drink no matter what. »
(c) Mirror Group Ltd, 2002.
Source: THE MIRROR 13/05/2002 P6
