No fewer than seven security agencies will feature in this year’s edition of ValueJet/SWAN Security Cup organized by the Ogun state chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
The SWAN Security Cup is a football competition organized to foster unity among all security agencies in Ogun state since 2021.
The defending champions, Police Machine were drawn in Group A, to play against the tough side, Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun State Fire Service and debutants, Federal Road Safety Corps.
In Group B of the competition, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), last year’s finalists, NSCDC and debutants, Economic and Financial Crime Commissions (EFCC) in preliminary round of matches beginning from Thursday August 1, 2024.
Speaking at the draws ceremony held on Friday at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, the Ogun State SWAN Chairman, Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji said the competition was put together to strengthen unity and friendship among the security outfits.
While appreciating ValueJet Airline as title sponsor of the fourth edition of the annual football competition, he appealed to corporate organizations and other philanthropists to emulate the airline company by giving more support to make the tournament bigger.
The Head of Marketing, ValueJet Nigeria, Uchechi Achomadu said the airline firm as a leading brand in Nigeria’s aviation industry with regular flights to five states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja was proud to be the official sponsor of competition.
She later announced a cash prize of one million naira for the eventual winners.
Uchechi added that there are branded jerseys for four teams in the semi-final stage of the competition, assuring the teams of commitment of ValueJet Airline as a brand to the success of the competition.
Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Sports Development, Mr. Lanre Ogunyinka assured SWAN of Ogun state government’s committment to the development of sports in the state.
Ogunyinka pledged that top coaches from the State Sports Council would be part of the competition to spot talents that would be nurtured to represent the State in major competitions.
He added that the hosting of the forthcoming National Sports Festival in the state, further demonstrate government’s readiness to improve the existing facilities at various stadia across the state and organize the best ever in the history of the game.
He called for continuous support of SWAN towards the successful media coverage of the biggest sporting event in the country come January 2025.
Also General Manager of Gateway United Football, Mr. Niyi Soleye lauded SWAN leadership for sustenance of the competition in the previous three editions.
Leave a comment