It’s a few hours into 2025, and the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter is already milking the year on merit level as the football team was on Wednesday afternoon awarded the UBTH Interprofessional Football Tournament Fair Play Team of the tournament.
Despite crashing out at the group stage after failing to win a game in three, the team left bold handwriting on the wall of the tournament with touches of professionalism in their dealings on and off the field.
The award was received by the members of the organizing committee of the Association and Edo FA board member Kennedy Ugbodaga of Dagashotz Media. As the custodian of almost every facet of the round leather game, the team demonstrated their calmness on the pitch, was friendly with every opposition and was quick to always intervene at the sensing of any chaos or unrest around the tournament venue.
SWAN didn’t only display maturity on and off the field, the team kitted by Owu Sports also added colours to their appearances during match day. With their Celtic FC Green and White alike jersey, the team was applauded by spectators at the tournament ground as the Best Dressed team of the year.
SWAN, depleted in two of the games played and unceremoniously not favoured in their second group match, is tinkered with by coach Joseph Isokpehi and captained by Salihu Ibrahim. The team also had Eghosa Aigbekaen as an assistant coach.
Players who featured for the team at the tournament are Joseph Isokpehi (coach), Ugiagbe Joseph, Kolawole Samuel, Salihu Ibrahim (captain), Precious Okwueze, Anietie Williams, Aigbevboile Augustine, David Alabi, Solomon Aina, Harrison Omorodion, Onyeka Igbute (screened out) Goji Sunday, Stephen Odinaka, Festus Obasuyi, Sharon Ekhiwere, Aigbomian Blessed, Nosakhare Igunma, Chika Ugbechie, Randy Mikah, Udeh Chinedu, Eghosa Aigbekaen (Assistant Coach), Emmanuel Victor.
Reacting to the announcement, the captain of the side, Salihu Ibrahim, said the team aims to win the next edition. “Wow! Deserved. We played by the rules. We will win the main title this time next year”