SWAG Cup explained

Number Of Teams:2
Region:
Current Champions:Asante Kotoko
Most Successful Club:Asante Kotoko (15 titles)
Website:SWAG CUP
Organiser:Sport Writers Association of Ghana
Broadcasters:GTV
H.P. Nyemetei SWAG Cup

The SWAG Cup (Sports Writers Association of Ghana Cup) is an annual one-off game, featuring two selected clubs at the end of the season.[1] [2] The cup is called the H.P. Nyemitei Cup in honour of former GFA president Henry Plange Nyemitei and the SIC H.P. Nyemitei Cup for sponsorship reasons. football season.[3] [4] The game is the official shutdown match for the football season in Ghana.[5]

Organised by the SWAG, proceeds from the game go into programmes of SWAG including SWAG Awards and other community development activities of the organization. The fixture was first played in the 1972 season.

The current holders are Asante Kotoko, who defeated rivals Ashanti Gold 1–0 in the 2015 match.[6] Asante Kotoko who also hold the record for most wins with 16 titles.

History

The SWAG cup was instituted by the Sports Writers Association Ghana in 1972, with the first edition being played on 31 December 1972 between Ebusua Dwarfs and Hearts of Oak at Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra as Dwarfs defeated Hearts 3–1 to emerge as the inaugural winners. The second edition was organized on 23 December 1973 with Hearts of Oak beating Kumasi Cornerstone 1–0 through by Robert Hammond at the Ohene Djan Stadium.

The SWAG cup is called H.P. Nyemitei Cup as it is played in honor of Henry Plange Nyemitei, a former Ghana Football Association president, Accra Hearts of Oak director, who also worked as a deputy managing director of the State Insurance Company (SIC) who are the sponsors of match. Nyemetei was also the chief patron of SWAG.[7] Since 1983, SIC has been the headline sponsors of the match. They support the annual match by assisting the association in raising funds for its social, community development activities and programmes including the SWAG Awards and also serving as a catalyst in social development through football.

In 2015, Asante Kotoko defeated Ashanti Gold by 1–0, via a late free kick from Eric Donkor.

List of finals

Source: [8]

YearWinnersScoreRunners up
1972Ebusua Dwarfs3–1Hearts of Oak
1973Hearts of Oakn/a
1974*Hearts of OakBofoakwa Tano
1975Bofoakwa Tanon/a
1976Dumas Boys of GTP
1977*Hearts of OakDumas Boys of GTP
1978Hearts of Oakn/a
1979Hearts of Oak
1980Eleven Wise
1981Asante Kotoko
1982Sekondi Hasaacas
1983Sekondi Hasaacas
1984Hearts of Oak
1985Hearts of Oak
1986Asante Kotoko
1987Okwahu United
1988Asante Kotoko
1989Asante Kotoko
1990Asante Kotoko
1991Asante Kotoko
1992Asante Kotoko
1993Asante Kotoko
1994Ashanti Gold
1995Ashanti Gold
1996Not held
1997Swedru All Blacks1–0Asante Kotoko
1998Asante KotokoSwedru All Blacks0–0
1999Not held
2000Asante Kotoko1–0King Faisal
2001Asante Kotoko
2002Not held
2003[9] Asante Kotoko2–1Liberty Professionals
2004Not held
2005Asante Kotoko2–1OC Agaza
2006[10] Ashanti Gold1–0Asante Kotoko
2007Liberty Professionals3–0Hearts of Oak
2008Asante Kotoko2–1Ashanti Gold
2009[11] Heart of Lions2–1agg.Asante Kotoko
2010Ashanti Gold1–0agg.Hearts of Oak
2011–14Not held
2015[12] [13] Asante Kotoko1–0Ashanti Gold
2016–PresentNot held

Performance by club

!Club!Winners!Winning Years
Asante Kotoko151986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992,1993,1998*, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2015
Hearts of Oak71973, 1974*, 1977*,1978, 1979, 1984, 1985
Ashanti Gold41994, 1995, 2006, 2010
Sekondi Hasaacas21982, 1983
Bofoakwa Tano21974*, 1975
Dumas Boys of GTP21976, 1977*
Eleven Wise11980
Okwawu United11987
Swedru All Blacks11997, 1998*
Ebusua Dwarfs11972
Liberty Professionals12007
Heart of Lions12009
Note: * are shared titles

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 28 November 2015. Preview: Kotoko face Ashgold in SWAG Cup. 23 November 2021. My Joy Online.
  2. Web site: Okine. Sammy Heywood. 21 June 2013. History and facts of the SWAG CUP. 23 November 2021. GhanaWeb.
  3. Web site: Sienu. Sheikh Tophic. 28 November 2015. Asante Kotoko vs Ashgold Preview: SIC Nyametei SWAG Cup. 23 November 2021. GhanaSoccernet.
  4. Web site: Okine. Sammy Heywood. 6 November 2015. SIC Nyemitei SWAG Cup Is Back. 23 November 2021. Modern Ghana.
  5. Web site: Yeboah. Bright Taylor. 4 August 2020. A historical overview of Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG). 23 November 2021. Football Ghana.
  6. Web site: How Kotoko pipped AshGold to SWAG Cup. 23 November 2021. Graphic Online. en-gb.
  7. Web site: Frimpong. Enoch Darfah. 10 December 2013. SWAG Cup to mark Nyemitei's death. 23 November 2021. Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Limited.
  8. Web site: Okine. Sammy Heywood. 10 November 2015. Facts and Figures of the SIC Nyemitei SWAG Cup. 23 November 2021. News Ghana.
  9. Book: Aduonom, Kofi Owusu. The Mirror: Issue 2632 Today's SWAG Cup match...Agaza to test Kotoko. 28 May 2005. Graphic Communications Group. Safo (Mrs.). Margaret. Accra, Ghana. 2632.
  10. Web site: 18 December 2006. Ashgold wins SWAG Cup. 23 November 2021. GhanaWeb. Ghana News Agency.
  11. Web site: 10 August 2009. Lions beat Kotoko to lift SWAG Cup. 23 November 2021. ghanafa. Ghana Football Association. en.
  12. Web site: 30 November 2015. Asante Kotoko beat AshGold to win 2015 SWAG Cup. 23 November 2021. Citi 97.3 FM.
  13. Web site: Donkor. Kwadwo Baffoe. 30 November 2015. How Kotoko pipped AshGold to SWAG Cup. 23 November 2021. Graphic Online. en-gb.