The MBBS Female Football Team has qualified for the final of the University of Ibadan College of Medicine Provost Cup in place of the previous finalist, Nursing, who were disqualified for fielding unregistered players, as contained in a Press Release by the Provost Cup Planning Committee on Wednesday, 8th of November, 2023.
The full statement, which was circulated towards mid-day, read thus “ It has come to the attention of the Provost Cup Planning Committee that the Department of Nursing fielded more female players than the 10 players that the tournament provided for. From the investigation, the committee concluded that 2 unregistered persons played for Nursing in the Provost Cup’s female event, leading to the disqualification of the Nursing female team.
Following the disqualification, Human Nutrition get a bye in the third-place game and are bronze winners in the Provost Cup female event. MBBS are the second finalists and will face EHS on Friday, 10th November, 2023”. It was signed by the Head of the Provost Cup Planning Committee, Samuel Abhareyi, and accompanied by the statement “DIRECTIVES FROM THE DEPUTY PROVOST”.
The Nursing Ladies had initially defeated their MBBS counteroarts by one goal to nil in a keen contest at the Maracana Pitch, Zik Hall on Monday, 6th of November, 2023 and were scheduled to face Environmental Health Sciences who had emerged victorious over Human Nutrition on penalties. However, with this decision, the MBBS Ladies now join their Male Team, who will be facing Faculty of Public Health giants, Human Nutrition, in the finals.
The UCJ reached out to the Sports Director of both teams for comments regarding the decision. Nursing’s Sports Director, Ebuka, referred the UCJ’s correspondent to an open letter from the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA) Sports Committee. In the letter, there was an appeal for a change in the decision made by the Provost Cup Planning Committee regarding the allegations made by the University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association (UIMSA), as well as mentions of violations committed by other teams which the Planning Committee had overlooked. On the other hand, MBBS’ Sports Director, David Akinnusoye, had this to say “It was a fair decision by the Provost Cup planning committee and I must commend Abha, the coordinator, for his diligent efforts to ensure that justice was served. It’s clearly stipulated that only 10 players could be fielded. By all evidence, Nursing breached the rules and was disqualified. The outcome was good for MBBS and good for the tournament now and in future. It would be difficult to see a repeat in future and that is good sportsmanship that a student environment should instil”.
Both finals will be played on the 10th of November 2023 at the SMLS Pitch, UCH, with the Female final taking place by 8 AM and the Male final by 9 AM.
