Adebumowa Jesutomiwo Adejumoke
The Sigma Chief’s League Press Conference took place today, 8th of November 2024 at the Student Representative Council Room, the Student Union Building.
The press conference was called to inform the general public and the press about the Sigma Chief’s League 2024 which has been slated for the 18th of November to the 28th of November 2024.
The Sigma Chief’s League is an annual football competition that is meant to unify students from different faculties and departments. It usually comprises of female and male students as well as faculties and halls.
This is the third edition following the second edition that held in February of 2023.
According to the chairman of the Sport Committee, Afolabi Eden, this edition is opened to all registered students of University of Ibadan, both undergraduates and postgraduates.”
“unlike the last year’s league, the picking of team will be a free style process (pick your team process) where both male and female footballers are free to pick their teams, the maximum number of players that are to make up a team are sixteen for both male and female. The male team is expected to consist of eighteen players, while the female team will consist of ten players,” he continued.
“The style for picking the winner will be a knock out style where a defeat takes out the team defeated and the winner takes all. There will be gift prices for other winners and this will be announced.”
The venue for the league will be at the University of Ibadan old pitch also known as the SUB pitch. All the matches including the opening ceremony and finals will take place there.
The chairman stated that “the requirements for interested individuals is that they must be registered students of the University of Ibadan, that is, they must show evidence of the fact that they are students of the University of Ibadan.”
Further specifying the rules, Eden noted that each team must have its own unique uniforms. “We are requiring players to have leather boots—not plastic—to maintain the integrity and quality of the games,” he said.
In addition, Eden highlighted a significant distinction this year: “Members of Sigma Club will not be allowed to participate in the Sigma Chief’s League 2024, to ensure an open and fair competition for all other students.”
Eden announced that registration will commence tomorrow, November 9, followed by a screening process for each team to verify that they meet the tournament’s requirements.
He also explained that the Sigma Chief’s League will offer more than just the main cash prize for the winning team.
“Aside from the cash prize for the league champion and gift prizes for other top teams, we will also recognize individual talents and fair play,” Eden stated.
He elaborated on the special awards that will be up for grabs, which include honors for the highest goal scorer, the league’s most valuable player, the best assist provider, and a fair play award.
The Chairman of the committee also stated that there will be room for volunteers like photographers, videographers and sport analysts.
