Ogun State government says it will deploy some of its officers to match venue to scout for players that will be incorporated into Team Ogun ahead of the National Sports Festival.
The Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Sports Development, Mr. Lanre Ogunyinka stated this in Abeokuta during the draws for the 4th ValueJet SWAN Security cup competition.
Mr. Ogunyinka who noted that the step was to show the commitment of the present administration towards sports development, restated the resolve of governor Dapo Abiodun to use sports especially the forthcoming National Sports Festival to advance the socio-economic growth of the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports Development said efforts and activities of SWAN in Ogun State towards the development of sports in ogun state cannot be underestimated.
He commended the organising committee of the competition for putting mechanism in place to check the use of machineries and ensure hitch free tournament.
“Ogun State government intends to use the forthcoming National Sports Festival to further strengthen and promote Unity irrespective of tribes, religious and cultural beliefs since the sports across the world remained a veritable instrument to promoting unity”
Ogunyinka urged the participating to demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship throughout the competition.
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.
Earlier, 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.
Fire service will take on the debutant, the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC in the match day one of the competition expected to take place at the football pitch of Abeokuta grammar school Idi Aba while the rivalrly between TRACE team and NCSDC in the second game of the day.
The defending champions, Police Machine will begin their title defence against Nigeria Customs Service who won the second edition of the competition.
