SWAG awards night given added boost

Accra, July 28, GNA - This Saturday's Sports Writers' Association's (SWAG) awards night was given an added boost on Monday with the presentation of 19 trophies from Switzerland valued at 12 million cedis by Akosombo Textile Limited (ATL) in Accra. The company also doled out 10 million cedis cash plus pieces of wax prints for the 20 awards winners.

Alhaji Eassah Oblitey, former player of the Black Stars and an employee of the ATL who presented the items on behalf of the company underscored the importance of the textile manufacturing company in providing jobs for sportsmen and sportswomen. ATL now employs a chunk of the country's former footballers, boxers, and athletes among others. Alhaji Oblitey urged other companies to emulate ATL, which, he said, would serve as a motivation for sportsman and sportswomen to die a little for their country.

Mr Ebo Quansah, President of SWAG was grateful to the company. He announced that President John Agyekum Kufuor would be the special guest of honour at the ceremony. Ghana's sole medallist at last year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Margaret Simpson, would become the first woman to win the SWAG topmost award - the Sportswoman of the Year.

Simpson, 20, who won the heptathlon bronze at the Manchester Games and later gold in the African Championship in Tunisia, would also be presented with the Athlete of the Year award. Controversial Charles Taylor of Accra Hearts of Oak fame would be crowned footballer of the year as well as his female counterpart Florence Okoe of La Ladies who is also a key player of the Black Queens.

Taylor and his former team-mate Bernard Don Bortey who tied with 18 goals each at the end of last Premier League season are to receive the Joint Goal-King award. Defending league Champions Hearts take home the top scoring club award for the sixth successive year with 72 goals. Other awards include, Team of the Year- Black Queens, James Toney - Professional Boxer of the Year, Joseph Willington -Referee of the Year.