{{Short description|Ghana football cup game}} {{infobox football tournament|current=|founded={{start date and age|1972}}|number of teams=2|region={{flagcountry|Ghana}}|current champions=Asante Kotoko|most successful club=Asante Kotoko (16 titles)|motto=|website=[https://swagghana.com/ SWAG CUP]|organiser=Sport Writers Association of Ghana|broadcasters=GTV|title=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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 November 2015|title=Preview: Kotoko face Ashgold in SWAG Cup|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/preview-kotoko-face-ashgold-in-swag-cup/|access-date=23 November 2021|website=My Joy Online}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Okine|first=Sammy Heywood|date=21 June 2013|title=History and facts of the SWAG CUP|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/History-and-facts-of-the-SWAG-CUP-277473|access-date=23 November 2021|website=GhanaWeb}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Sienu|first=Sheikh Tophic|date=28 November 2015|title=Asante Kotoko vs Ashgold Preview: SIC Nyametei SWAG Cup|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/asante-kotoko-vs-ashgold-preview-sic-nyametei-swag-cup|access-date=23 November 2021|website=GhanaSoccernet}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Okine|first=Sammy Heywood|date=6 November 2015|title=SIC Nyemitei SWAG Cup Is Back|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/654381/sic-nyemitei-swag-cup-is-back.html|access-date=23 November 2021|website=Modern Ghana}}</ref> The game is the official shutdown match for the football season in Ghana.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Yeboah|first=Bright Taylor|date=4 August 2020|title=A historical overview of Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG)|url=https://footballghana.com/a-historical-overview-of-sports-writers-association-of-ghana-swag|access-date=23 November 2021|website=Football Ghana}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
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.<ref name=":2" />
The current holders are Asante Kotoko, who defeated rivals Ashanti Gold 1–0 in the 2015 match.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|title=How Kotoko pipped AshGold to SWAG Cup|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/how-kotoko-pipped-ashgold-to-swag-cup.html|location=Accra, Ghana|access-date=23 November 2021|newspaper=Daily Graphic|language=en-gb}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name=":2" />
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.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Frimpong|first=Enoch Darfah|date=10 December 2013|title=SWAG Cup to mark Nyemitei's death|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/swag-cup-to-mark-nyemitei-s-death.html|location=Accra, Ghana|access-date=23 November 2021|newspaper=Daily Graphic}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /> Since 1983, SIC has been the headline sponsors of the match.<ref name=":4" /> 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.<ref name=":2" />
In 2015, Asante Kotoko defeated Ashanti Gold by 1–0, via a late free kick from Eric Donkor.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
== List of finals == ''Source:'' <ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Okine|first=Sammy Heywood|date=10 November 2015|title=Facts and Figures of the SIC Nyemitei SWAG Cup|url=https://newsghana.com.gh/facts-and-figures-of-the-sic-nyemitei-swag-cup/|access-date=23 November 2021|website=News Ghana}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Winners !Score !Runners up |- |1972 |Ebusua Dwarfs |3–1 |Hearts of Oak |- |1973 |Hearts of Oak | colspan="2" |''n/a'' |- |1974* |Hearts of Oak Bofoakwa Tano | colspan="2" | |- |1975 |Bofoakwa Tano | colspan="2" rowspan="2" |''n/a'' |- |1976 |Dumas Boys of GTP |- |1977* |Hearts of Oak Dumas Boys of GTP | colspan="2" | |- |1978 |Hearts of Oak | colspan="2" rowspan="18" |''n/a'' |- |1979 |Hearts of Oak |- |1980 |Eleven Wise |- |1981 |Asante Kotoko |- |1982 |Sekondi Hasaacas |- |1983 |Sekondi Hasaacas |- |1984 |Hearts of Oak |- |1985 |Hearts of Oak |- |1986 |Asante Kotoko |- |1987 |Okwahu United |- |1988 |Asante Kotoko |- |1989 |Asante Kotoko |- |1990 |Asante Kotoko |- |1991 |Asante Kotoko |- |1992 |Asante Kotoko |- |1993 |Asante Kotoko |- |1994 |Ashanti Gold |- |1995 |Ashanti Gold |- |1996 | colspan="3" |''Not held'' |- |1997 |Swedru All Blacks |1–0 |Asante Kotoko |- |1998 |Asante Kotoko Swedru All Blacks* |0–0 | |- |1999 | colspan="3" |''Not held'' |- |2000 |Asante Kotoko |1–0 |King Faisal |- |2001 |Asante Kotoko | | |- |2002 | colspan="3" |''Not held'' |- |2003<ref>{{Cite book|last=Aduonom|first=Kofi Owusu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R9vFSeBoCPIC&pg=PT2|title=The Mirror: Issue 2632 Today's SWAG Cup match...Agaza to test Kotoko|date=28 May 2005|publisher=Graphic Communications Group|editor-last=Safo (Mrs.)|editor-first=Margaret|location=Accra, Ghana|issue=2632}}</ref> |Asante Kotoko |2–1 |Liberty Professionals |- |2004 | colspan="3" |''Not held'' |- |2005 |Asante Kotoko |2–1 |OC Agaza |- |2006<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 December 2006|title=Ashgold wins SWAG Cup|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Ashgold-wins-SWAG-Cup-115791|access-date=23 November 2021|website=GhanaWeb|publisher=Ghana News Agency}}</ref> |Ashanti Gold |1–0 |Asante Kotoko |- |2007 |Liberty Professionals |3–0 |Hearts of Oak |- |2008 |Asante Kotoko |2–1 |Ashanti Gold |- |2009<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=10 August 2009|title=Lions beat Kotoko to lift SWAG Cup|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/lions-beat-kotoko-to-lift-swag-cup|access-date=23 November 2021|website=ghanafa|publisher=Ghana Football Association|language=en}}</ref> |Heart of Lions |2–1 agg. |Asante Kotoko |- |2010 |Ashanti Gold |1–0 agg. |Hearts of Oak |- |2011–14 | colspan="3" |''Not held'' |- |2015<ref>{{Cite web|date=30 November 2015|title=Asante Kotoko beat AshGold to win 2015 SWAG Cup|url=https://citifmonline.com/2015/11/asante-kotoko-beat-ashgold-to-win-2015-swag-cup/|access-date=23 November 2021|website=Citi 97.3 FM|language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Donkor|first=Kwadwo Baffoe|date=30 November 2015|title=How Kotoko pipped AshGold to SWAG Cup|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/sports/sports-news/how-kotoko-pipped-ashgold-to-swag-cup.html|location=Accra, Ghana|access-date=23 November 2021|newspaper=Daily Graphic|language=en-gb}}</ref> |Asante Kotoko |1–0 |Ashanti Gold |- |2016–Present | colspan="3" |''Not held'' |}
=== Performance by club === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Club !Winners !Winning years |- |Asante Kotoko |15 |1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992,1993,1998*, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2015 |- |Hearts of Oak |7 |1973, 1974*, 1977*,1978, 1979, 1984, 1985 |- |Ashanti Gold |4 |1994, 1995, 2006, 2010 |- |Sekondi Hasaacas |2 |1982, 1983 |- |Bofoakwa Tano |2 |1974*, 1975 |- |Dumas Boys of GTP |2 |1976, 1977* |- |Eleven Wise |1 |1980 |- |Okwawu United |1 |1987 |- |Swedru All Blacks |1 |1997, 1998* |- |Ebusua Dwarfs |1 |1972 |- |Liberty Professionals |1 |2007 |- |Heart of Lions |1 |2009 |} ''Note: * are shared titles''
== See also ==
* Football in Ghana * Ghana Premier League * Ghana FA Cup
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/ghacuphist.html SWAG Cup] at the RSSSF {{Football in Ghana}}
Category:Football competitions in Ghana Category:Football cup competitions in Ghana Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1972 Category:1972 establishments in Ghana