By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Globe FM Bauchi football team emerged winners of the just concluded Sports Writers Association of Nigeria SWAN Bauchi chapter 2022 sports week.
The team defeated Albarka Radio football team 6 to 5 after a penalty shootout at the Yelwa Campus pitch of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University.
Globe FM received their trophy at a colourful event and was presented with an award to mark the end of the SWAN week.
Others winners include Best Sports Journalist for Television that went to Abdullahi Shehu Yankari of Bauchi state Television; Best Sports Journalist for Radio, Mubarak Aliyu of Albarka Radio and Best Sports Journalist for Print that went to Ishola Michael Adeyemi of Correspondent Chapel.
The most valuable player was won by Abdul Rasheed Shehu of Globe FM; Best Goal Keeper, Mansur Yusuf of Albarka Radio and Highest Goal Scorer which went to Music Babandija of BATV for registering four goals during the competition.
Other categories of awards include Badminton, Table Tennis and scrapple.
Outside the SWAN family, Dauda Shehu of Sports Medicals was awarded best supporting staff while Director of Sports, Bauchi Sports Council was recognised as the best sports administrator.
SWAN Bauchi also bestowed the award of Sports Man of the year to Usman Yusuf, Nigeria’s only International Wrestling Referee.
Apart from representing Africa in three Common Wealth Games as a referee, Usman has won Laurent for the state in 48kg and 52kg freestyle.
Speaking at the award presentation, Zonal Vice President of SWAN, Zakaria Jibo commended Bauchi chapter for organising the week, noting that it has provided an opportunity for journalists to take time off their busy schedules and relax.
Jibo said talents discovered from the competition will form a formidable team for the forthcoming National SWAN competition for which the zone is the current champion.
State chairman of SWAN, Mahmood Yakubu Ibn Mohammed thanked Bauchi state government for her support to the success of the week.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, the Director of Sports, Bauchi Sports Council Garba challenged SWAN to include more games especially for female journalists.
He appreciated SWAN for the awards, pledging the Council’s continued support to sporting activities in the state.
