Super Eagles, others to get 24-hour security at AFCON 2013

Sotyu  courtesy www.defenceweb.co.za

Police in South Africa has revealed that it will provide 24-hour security for members of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the fifteen other teams that will participate in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Speaking on Tuesday, Police Deputy Minister Makhotso Sotyu and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) said in a statement that “We have specialised police officers to handle any eventuality that may arise.”

They disclosed that security measures prepared for the continental football tourney includes placing security at all entry points, escorting players to training sites, hotels and to the stadium and providing police presence at hotels.

“Based on our experience of having hosted over 400 international events, we are confident that the tournament will be safe and secure,” Sotyu said.

We gathered that South Africa’s National Joint Intelligence and Operations Structure (Natjoints) and the LOC have been taking measures to address some of the issues encountered during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Some of these include dealing with strikes and intrusions in dressing rooms at Cape Town Stadium. South African authorities say that steps have also been taken to combat hooliganism and human trafficking during the tournament.

“As part of our security plan, we will be deploying what we term 'spotters' around all the stadiums to identify any act of hooliganism and perpetrators will be removed and arrested on the spot,” said a South African official.