The City of the Warlords, Ibadan will this weekend witness the mother of all battles as members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Oyo State are poised to take on their counterparts from the Ibadan Recreation Club in an invitational multi sports contest.
The friendly contest tagged Oyo SWAN/IRC Invitational Tourney is scheduled for Friday February 17th 2023 at the Ibadan Recreation Club premises in Adamasingba Ibadan.
The multi sports contest between Oyo SWAN and IRC, geared towards cementing the cordial relationship between the two bodies, has however started generating a war of words between the two friendly foes.
In a press release, the Secretary of Oyo SWAN, Adewale Tijani stated that his Association is battle ready to confront the boastful IRC team.
Tijani, while responding to a statement from his IRC counterpart, Kayode Oluwadare who boasted that the SWAN squad will fall down like a pack of cards before the IRC squad, revealed that a 32 man crack team has been assembled to confront the host team at their backyard.
“I promise you, we will humble your team. We are as solid as a rock”, Tijani vowed.
In an earlier exchange of banters, the IRC President, Dr. Adesoji Tayo fired the first salvo by boasting that his team would soundly defeat the Oyo SWAN team in all the games of the one day multi sports contest.
“You write sports, we play it. We will show you the difference between writing sports and sportsmen. My team will beat yours black and blue because we are fitter and well prepared. We will triumph in all the games”, Adesoji said.
The Chairman of Oyo SWAN, Niyi Alebiosu instantly fired back, telling the IRC President to expect an upset.
He added that Oyo SWAN team team won’t be a pushover.
“Mr. President, even though most of your men seem fitter and better but do not be too sure of victory. And do not underrate my men. Oyo SWAN also have good players. IRC might have facilities but SWAN also have talents. And we will shock you”, Alebiosu said.
The one day multi sports friendly contest will feature 5 – A -Side football, Billiards & Snookers, Ayo Olopon, Ludo, Table Tennis and Tennis.
In each of the games, members of Oyo SWAN will square up against their IRC counterparts
According to the organisers of the Oyo SWAN/IRC Invitational Tourney, winners and runners up in each of the games will go home with fabulous prizes.
Highlights of the event will also include a special dinner for the participants as well as the investiture of the IRC President, Dr. Adesoji Tayo as the Patron of Oyo SWAN.
Dignitaries expected to grace the occasion are the General Oyo State Sports Council, Mr. Gboyega Makinde, the President, National Judo Federation Dr. Musa Oshodi, the Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists Oyo State Council, Mr. Ademola Babalola and a former Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan.
