Ghana’s row over bonuses in the World Cup which forced the government to fly $3m (£1.75) in cash to Brazil is already in the early stages of production.
The Ghanaian national team threatened to go on strike over non-payment of bonuses agreed for the tournament before the personal intervention of President Jon Dramani Mahama, with former coach Kwesi Appiah revealing that some of his players kept $100,000 share in their backpacks in their dressing room while they were playing their Group G fixture against Portugal.
As reported by The Guardian in June, the story attracted the attention of the US writer Darryl Wharton-Rigby and the former staff writer for US TV series Homicide: Life on the Street confirmed this week that he has been hired by Bugeater Films to write a preliminary script.
“Football and the players needing the money is kind of the backdrop to the story,” Wharton Rigby told the BBC. “But it’s really about the journey of the guy who actually is entrusted to deliver the money and what happens if he doesn’t get it there in time.
“I actually want the guy who’s the hero of the story to be from Ghana. I think there should be a hero who is African telling the story.
“I saw footage of the police cars taking the money on the highway and you can just see that scene playing out in your mind with someone like Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson as the guy having to save the day. You can see all kinds of mayhem happening on the highway.”
He added: “It’s 50-50 as to whether it will get made, we’re still at the early stages so we’re going to take it one step at a time. Hopefully we can write a great script and get someone who is attached to it.
“It’s a fascinating story and I think audiences internationally would really take to it. I can see the poster now; lots of soccer balls, a stadium and a guy on the run.”
Appiah’s revelations came after a presidential inquiry into Ghana’s poor World Cup campaign last month. The coach was relieved of his duties and the country is now working on finding a replacement.
The Ghana FA has issued a shortlist which includes former Chelsea manager Avram Grant, Michel Pont, Marco Tardelli, Patrick Kluivert and Juan Ignacio Martinez.
However Kluivert has withdrawn from the race, according to his agent.
“Patrick has no interest in this position now. He wants at this stage to focus on a club and not a country job,” Jansen told Ghanian website allsports.com.
“He would rather wait until a proper offer from a club in Europe comes along.”