Kwara SWAN

Kwara SWAN celebrates Taiwo Awoniyi on Birthday

The Kwara State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has felicitated with Nigerian international and Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, on the occasion of his birthday.

In a statement signed by Kwara SWAN Chairman, Ayodeji Ismail, on Wednesday, the association described Awoniyi as an inspiration to millions of children and a man of great virtues whose life exemplifies selflessness, humility and service to humanity.

The association also commended Awoniyi for his contributions to human capital and community development, wishing him many happy returns as he continues to uplift individuals and communities through his philanthropic programmes.

“Today, we celebrate not just our pride in Kwara but Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Taiwo Awoniyi is a man of great virtues and he has truly demonstrated his ‘Omoluabi’ traits on all fronts,” the statement reads in part.

“As he marks his birthday alongside his twin sister today, we pray that Almighty God grants him sound health, continued success and prosperity. We also earnestly wish him a long life and prosperity,” the statement concludes.

Kwara SWAN hails Akeem Busari for inspiring homecoming, capacity-building seminar for coaches

The Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has commended the Head Coach of Nigeria's U-17 women's national team, Akeem Busari, for his recent visit to Kwara State, where he conducted a capacity-building training for grassroots coaches as facilited by leadership of Nigeria Football Coaches Association(NFCA) Kwara State chapter.

Speaking during an interactive session with the tactician over the weekend, Kwara SWAN Chairman, Mallam Ayodeji Ismail, described Coach Busari's visit, during which he trained over 80 coaches, as a remarkable gesture.

"We are proud to have hosted Coach Busari at our secretariat for a rich session, and we congratulate him on qualifying the Flamingos for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup within a short period of taking charge of the team," the chairman said.

Describing the visit as an "inspiring homecoming", owing to its positive impact on young coaches in the state, the chairman urged the former Bayelsa Queens coach to make regular visits to his home state, noting how the upcoming generation can benefit from his rich experience.

He further assured Coach Busari of the association's unwavering support as he leads the Flamingos to the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco,even as he experessed his confidence in his capacity to make the country proud.

Busari is one of Kwara State's indigenous coaches with an impressive pedigree and holder of distintive CAF-A coaching license. The gaffer who is hailed from Igbo-Owu in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State has distinguished himself as one of the few Nigerian coaches who have worked successfully in both male and female football clubs at elite level.

Kabir Dogo Clears Air on El-Kanemi Exit, Backs Gradual NPFL Salary Policy

The 2026 President Federation Cup-winning coach, Kabir Dogo, has clarified the circumstances surrounding his departure from El-Kanemi Warriors, stating that his contract with the Maiduguri-based club had expired before he signed a new deal with Niger Tornadoes.

Dogo made the clarification on Friday while featuring on the Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Sports Hard Talk at the Taiwo Awoniyi Sports Media Centre, Stadium Complex, Ilorin.

According to the experienced tactician, his contract with El-Kanemi Warriors expired on June 26, before the President Federation Cup final was postponed to July 11.

He explained that although El-Kanemi Warriors wanted him to remain in charge, especially after leading the club to a historic President Federation Cup triumph over Ikorodu City in Asaba, he decided to move on in pursuit of greater career development.

Speaking on the National Sports Commission's proposed policy of a ₦2 million monthly minimum salary for Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) players, Dogo described the initiative as commendable but stressed that its implementation should be gradual and involve extensive consultations with stakeholders.

He noted that the policy has the potential to strengthen the domestic league and reduce the mass exodus of Nigerian players to neighbouring countries, provided club owners are adequately prepared for the financial implications.

Dogo also expressed appreciation to football stakeholders in Borno State, including the Chairman of the Borno State Football Association, the Commissioner for Sports, and the Shehu of Borno, for their unwavering support throughout his time with El-Kanemi Warriors.

Looking ahead to his new assignment with Niger Tornadoes, the coach said he intends to work with a compact squad of 25 players, explaining that it would enable him to understand his team better and build a competitive side capable of challenging for continental qualification and finishing among the top three teams in the NPFL.

Scenes from the Kwara SWAN Media Advancement Seminar for Football Coaches held on Tuesday, 30th June 2026 at the Taiwo Awoniyi Media Sports Centre, George Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin.

The seminar featured insightful lectures and practical sessions delivered by Aliyu Zubair, High Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka and Kazeem Ibrahim, who shared knowledge on modern media engagement, communication strategies and the importance of effective interactions between coaches and the media.

Adio Lauds SWAN Initiative, Seeks Better Media Engagement for Coaches

A former Commissioner for Sports in Kwara State and an Olympian, Alhaji Hameed Adio, has commended the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kwara State chapter, for organising the 2026 Media Advancement Seminar for Football Coaches, describing it as a timely initiative to strengthen the relationship between coaches and the media.

Speaking at the seminar, Alhaji Adio described the relationship between football coaches and media practitioners as a symbiotic one that is essential for the growth and development of football.

He noted that coaching is a highly demanding profession that exposes practitioners to enormous pressure and health hazards, adding that a football coach could lose his job within seconds due to poor results or other unforeseen circumstances.

The former Kwara sports commissioner said mutual respect, understanding and collaboration between coaches and journalists would enhance professionalism, improve communication and contribute significantly to football development.

According to him, coaching requires not only technical expertise but also encouragement and continuous support from stakeholders, urging that similar capacity-building programmes be sustained and expanded.

Alhaji Adio advocated the institutionalisation of regular forums involving coaches, organising secretaries and sports administrators, noting that continuous engagement remains key to improving sports governance and administration in Kwara State.

He also commended the participants across and outside the state for their large turnout describing the seminar as another step towards building a more coordinated, professional and forward-looking sports sector in the state.

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Mogaji Seeks Improved Media-Coaches Collaboration for Football Growth

The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, has described effective collaboration between football coaches and the media as crucial to the development of the game in the country.

Mallam Mogaji stated this while declaring open the 2026 Kwara SWAN Media Advancement Seminar for Football Coaches, organised by the Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

He said football development goes beyond activities on the pitch, stressing that coaches and journalists must work together to promote players, attract investment and project the achievements of football in Kwara State.

The Sports Commission chairman noted that Kwara remains the only state in the country with what he described as the best football pitch and the best cricket pavilion, attributing the achievement to the state's commitment to developing world-class sporting facilities.

According to him, the seminar aligns with the commission's vision of repositioning Kwara as a centre of sporting excellence through improved communication, professionalism and sustained investment in sports infrastructure.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Kwara SWAN, Mr. Ayodeji Ismail, said the seminar was designed to equip football coaches with effective media engagement skills while promoting accurate and responsible sports journalism.

Mallam Ayodeji noted that stronger understanding between coaches and journalists would enhance professionalism and contribute to the overall growth of football.

He explained that the training would expose coaches to effective ways of responding to questions during pre-match and post-match media conferences, while also highlighting the opportunities such platforms provide to promote football clubs and enhance their visibility.

The Kwara Swan Chairman also appreciated FEMTECH IT and the Nigerian Football Coaches Association for their support towards the successful organisation of the seminar, describing their partnership as vital to advancing the coaching profession and football development in Kwara State.

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ABS FC Director Urges Coaches to Harness Media for Career Growth

The Director of Football of ABS FC, Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka, has urged football coaches to leverage the media to enhance their careers, describing journalists as key partners in promoting the activities and achievements of coaches.

Chukwuemeka, who was also one of the facilitators at the Advancement Seminar for Coaches organised by the Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), said the media remains a vital instrument for projecting the image of coaches and accelerating their professional growth.

Chief Alloy chukwuemeka noted that coaches who effectively utilise the media to publicise their activities stand a better chance of achieving rapid career advancement.

According to him, coaches should maintain cordial relationships with journalists at every stage of their careers, describing the media as an indispensable partner in sports development.

Speaking on football administration, Chukwuemeka called on governments to refrain from interfering in the management of football, urging them instead to provide a conducive environment and adequate support for the sport to flourish.

"We cannot continue to allow government to control football administration. Government should provide the right atmosphere, while football stakeholders manage the game," he said.

He also lamented that many sports administrators have failed to groom successors, describing leadership continuity as essential to the growth of football.

Highlighting ABS FC's contribution to talent development, Chukwuemeka disclosed that the club has produced more than 600 players who progressed from grassroots football to the international stage.

He advocated increased investment in grassroots football, expressing confidence that the sport would thrive if the right structures and an enabling environment were put in place

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Aliyu Zubair Urges Nigerian Coaches to Build Better Relationship with Media

The Technical Adviser of Telecom FC of Egypt, Coach Aliyu Zubair, has urged Nigerian coaches to always prepare themselves psychologically before responding to questions from journalists, stressing that effective media engagement is an essential part of modern coaching.

Coach Zubair gave the advice while speaking at an advancement seminar for coaches organised by the Kwara State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

Coach Zubair who was of the facilitators at the seminar said media plays a vital role in promoting coaches and their teams by creating brand awareness, disseminating accurate information and documenting their achievements.

According to him, journalists ask the questions that football fans want answered, and coaches should not take such questions personally.

"The media represents coaches by informing the public about what they do. Rather than seeing journalists as opponents, coaches should see them as partners," he said.

He advised coaches to build strong synergy with their players and maintain emotional discipline, particularly after matches.

He noted that coaches have the right to politely decline questions they are not comfortable answering instead of reacting angrily.

The former under 20 coach stressed that where a coach is too emotional after a game to face the media, an assistant coach may be delegated to attend the post-match briefing, except where the organisers insist on the presence of the head coach.

The Egyptian-based coach also stressed the importance of controlling emotions during media interactions, saying professionalism should always take precedence.

Speaking on player development, Coach Zubair said coaches must focus on four key areas: technical, tactical, physical (psychomotor) and psychological development, to help players reach their full potential.

He encouraged coaches to strengthen their relationship with the media, describing journalists as important stakeholders in projecting the image and achievements of coaches and their teams.

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