The football arm of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria, SWAN Selected, are battle ready to face All Stars Football Club of Akwanga in a novelty match on Thursday, 23rd March, 2023, at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Speaking to Radio Nigeria, Team Manager of SWAN Selected, Andrew Randa, said despite writing and reporting sports, SWAN members also engage in sporting activities to keep healthy and acquaint themselves with the knowledge of sports.
He boasted that the novelty match against the Akwanga All Stars would live up to expectations.
“I think the public should expect a very interesting game.
“A lot of people say we write and speak about sports, but we also show them that we can actually play the sports that we write and discuss on.
“Generally, it’s going to be a friendly atmosphere full of skills, camaraderie, fellowship and banters between journalists and All Stars of Akwanga who are actually our partners in progress.”
Randa revealed that among players to watch out for in the SWAN Selected’s squad include Samuel Toby Adepoju, Andy Randa, Eche Amos, Jesse Adams, China Acheru, Suleiman Adebayo, Mike Ebuka, Benjamin Sawadinho, among others from across Nigeria.
SWAN Selected engages in friendly matches with different organisations, institutions and personalities using the period of the international football window when the National Football Teams of Nigeria, mostly the Super Eagles, are involved in competitive games.
During such friendly matches, funds generated are channelled into charities to help the less privileged in the society or colleagues in need as part of their corporate social responsibility.
The event has always seen the large gathering of members of the profession and other invited dignitaries and sponsors from across the country, including top wigs of the Nigeria Football Federation, to attain the goal and also cover matches involving the national football teams of Nigeria.
In a related development, Chairman of Akwanga All Stars FC, Eche Amos, has said the friendly match is another vista to build healthy synergy with the sports writers aimed at developing sports and sporting talents in the country.
He noted that unlike the All Stars who are made up of ex-players who have impacted their world in professional football, sports journalists also, like other military and paramilitary organisations, can take up a career in the round leather game as it is not a sport reserved for any special group of persons or organisation.
Also a member of SWAN Selected, Eche said All Stars FC would approach Thursday’s game with every seriousness to avoid forming berating headlines from the sports journalists.
“Yes, it may be a friendly match, but we won’t take it likely either.
“I know my colleagues and what they can do with their mediums once the game doesn’t go in our favour.
“We have resolved to avoid anything that would make us end up as underdogs or minnows.
“I have played in the SWAN Selected team against different teams – in Lagos, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Kaduna, and other States, and I must say they are a very organised side with excellent playing and coaching staff.
“We are not going to Abuja to watch their gadgets or professional acumen, but to go and play and come back with victory.”
The SWAN Selected versus Akwanga All Stars match comes up by 3pm at the FIFA Goal Project, Package B of the Abuja National Stadium.
