Nigerian Army, DSS, Police, Customs Set To Clash At Ogun SWAN Security Cup

The Ogun SWAN Secretary, Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji at the draws ceremony of the security cup

ABEOKUTA - The second edition of SWAN/Security and Safety Cup will kick off on Monday, September 5, 2022 at the Muda Lawal Stadium, Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The SWAN/Security Cup is a yearly football competition organized by Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun State chapter for security and safety agencies in the state.

Addressing the participants at the draws ceremony held at the SWAN Secretariat, MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta on Thursday, the SWAN Chairman, Hakeem Akintunde commended the participating agencies for their commitment and spirit of camaraderie. 

Akintunde said the coming of the likes of Nigerian Army, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, and Department of State Security Service (DSS) to this year's edition was a sheer testimony of the confidence the security and safety agencies have in Ogun SWAN as critical stakeholders not only in sports reportage but also in sports development.

The Chairman, Main Organizing Committee (MOC) of the competition, Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji explained that all the group stage matches would be played at the Muda Lawal stadium, Asero Abeokuta, while the quarter-finals and the closing ceremony would take place at the MKO Abiola International stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Ogunsiji stated that, 12 security and safety agencies are participating at this year's competition.

He explained that the eventual champions would cart home the sum of N250,000 with the giant trophy, while the first and second runners-up would go home with N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.

He stressed further that, the Ogun State Football Association and Nigeria Referee Association would handle the technicality of the competition to ensure its measures up with international best practices.

The MOC Chairman, therefore, implored all the participating agencies to cooperate with the organizers and abide with the rules of the game.

He urged them not to see the competition as do-or-die but as fun and imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship.

In the group pairing, Nigerian Army is seeded alongside Vigilante Group of Nigeria and Nigeria Immigration Service in Group A, Department of State Security Service (DSS) will tackle Amotekun Corps and So-Safe Corps in Group B, while the defending champion, NSCDC will slug it out with Nigeria Customs Service and Ogun State Fire Service in group C.

The Nigeria Police will trade tackle with TRACE and Nigerian Correctional Service(NCoS).

The opening match is between Vigilante Group of Nigeria and Nigeria Immigration Service on September 5, 2022 at the Muda Lawal Stadium, Asero beginning from 10am.