Wrestling: Nigeria Army rules 1st CGC Military/Paramilitary Championship

... declares readiness for African Military Games 2024

Nigeria Army emerged champions of the 1st Comptroller General of Customs Military and Para Military National Wrestling Championship in Abuja.

The three-day tournament had host Customs, Nigeria Air Force, NSCDC, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Navy, FRSC and Nigeria Correctional Service compete in Greco-Roman, Men’s Freestyle, and Women’s Freestyle Wrestling at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.

Nigeria Army won 14 medals, 9 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze, to assert its dominance in the wrestling event amongst Military and Paramilitary Organisations.

The Acting Director of Physical Training, Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Abdulraheem Bello, applauded the wrestlers for their sterling performance at the championship.

Brig Gen Bello said the win strongly indicates that the Nigeria Army wrestling team is ready to make the nation proud at the forthcoming African Military Games (AMGA) 2024.

He added that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has provided the enabling environment and logistics for sports especially combat sports to thrive.

Bello said, “I want to applaud the wrestlers for putting up a good show by emerging first position at the just concluded 1st Comptroller General of Customs Military and Para Military National Wrestling Championship. 

Before the championship, the mandate of the wrestlers was to win convincingly and use the championship as preparation ahead of the African Military Games.   

“Most of the wrestlers who won gold medals are in the national team and have won laurels for the country. 

Hannah Reuben is an African Champion, Commonwealth Games medallist, and two-time Olympian; Tochukwu Okeke and Julius Adekunle are wrestlers who have dominated their various categories in the Greco-Roman. 

The Nigerian Army desires to continue making the country proud at International Championships.     

“The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja has given the Department of Physical Training the mandate to win every available championship in the country and has provided the necessary support as well as logistics to excel. 

We plan to recruit athletes to fill the vacuum created by some of our elite athletes becoming coaches/referees.

“Our next point of action is to immediately return to camp and train hard for the African Military Games next November”, he added.

Amotekun's charm failed, Fire Service run out of water as maiden Ogun SWAN/Security & Safety Cup enters semifinal

The ongoing SWAN/Security and Safety Cup among security agencies in Ogun State has reached semi-final.

Four teams progressed to the Semi-final from Group A and B.

Nigeria Police finished top of Group A with 7points alongside second placed TRACE with 4points, while Amotekun and Fire Service crashed out of the competition.

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) qualified to the Semi-final with 7 points as leader of Group B alongside Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) with 5points.

The football team of Ogun state Police command will take on their counterpart from the Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, in the first semi final.

The encounter slated for the main bowl of MKO International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta will kick off by 2pm on February 28.

In the second semi finals, TRACE will battle NSCDC by 4pm at same venue.

According the Chairman, Main Organizing Committee, Mr. Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji, the final match of the competition will come up on Wednesday, 2nd March, 2022.

He said Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun will be the Special Guest of Honour, the Speaker, Ogun state House of Assembly, Prince Olakunle Oluomo is the Guest of Honour while the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Olumide Osoba is the Chairman of the occasion.

Ogunsiji added that the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde is the Chief host, the Towulade of Akinale, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye is the royal father of the day.

E-SIGNED

SWAN SECRETARY