CAF Beach Soccer: 3,500 Security Men To Secure Eko Atlantic City – Adeboye

TAIWO ADELU 

Chairman of the Security Community of the Main Organising Committee of the 2016 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Beach Soccer Championship, Adeboye Anthony Adeyinka has disclosed that no fewer than 3,500 men and women of various security agencies will be deployed to ensure a hitch free African tournament.

The week-long competition will start on Tuesday and end on Sunday, 18 December at the Eko Atlantic City on Lagos Island.  Adeboye, who is also holding the same portfolio in the committee put together by the host state, Lagos State Government, said that there has been painstaking plan in the past few months, because Lagos knew very they must not take the issue of security with kid gloves.

“I can assure without mincing words that security will be tight during the tournament because we have done our home work very well. After preparations that have been on in the last few months, we had a test run during the COPA Lagos which was held on Sunday, 11 December at the Eko Atlantic City. The outing of our security agencies was so excellent, a pointer that we are ready for the CAF championship which starts on Tuesday, ” said Adeboye who is also the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Sports to the Governor of Lagos State.

He, however, warned trouble makers and street urchins popularly called ‘area boys’ to stay clear of the Eko Atlantic City else they will forever regret their action, adding: “We have assured the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF), the participating teams and other stakeholders of their safety, so we will leave nothing to chance to make sure we fulfil our obligation, hence zero tolerance to violence throughout the duration of the competition.

“The Arena will be condoned off by the men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), the Fire Brigade, KAI, LASTMA and others. We are grateful to our dear Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who allowed us to use some of the security men and other agencies of the government. We are more than prepare to organize the best ever CAF Africa Cup of Nations Beach Soccer Championship starting from Tuesday. All the teams have arrived. We ensured their safety from the airport to their Eko Hotel camp. We are ready, ” Adeboye said.