ROU
By Sodiq Oladigbolu
The University of Lagos is hosting this year’s edition of the Nigerian University Games (NUGA), but to secure a spot in the competition, qualifiers were held in major zones, to decide which institutions would represent the zones in different games and competitions.
The University of Ibadan played host to universities in the Zone B division, as they all contested to secure the available tickets for the main NUGA slated for March. UI hosted Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, The First Technical University (FTU), Ibadan, and Lead City University, Ibadan.
The Premiere University contested in 13 sports- Football, Basketball, Taekwondo, Judo, Volleyball, Handball, Badminton, Squash, Swimming, Chess, Athletics, Tennis, Table Tennis- having secured automatic qualifications in 3 individual sports. The games kicked off on the 25th of January, with the major actions taking place at the Awo stadium. UI dazzled spectators by putting up good performances against their contenders.
The UI football team made their opponents look ordinary in the qualifiers, winning all their matches to clinch the single ticket ahead of LAUTECH. The UI Pioneers played their first game on the 27th of January, beating stubborn Lead City University 2-0.
In their second game, UI reigned supreme over First Technical University, in an Oyo State derby. They dispatched their neighbours easily in a 2-0 victory. The final game against LAUTECH was the toughest, with the single ticket up for grabs. UI came out on top with a narrow 1-0 victory. The victory secured UI’s qualification in the male football category. However, the game was marred by violence, as the referees were almost mauled, and some players were beaten.
UI also recorded victories in other sports. The basketball team won their games against Lead City University, First Technical University, and the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
The first game was against the First Technical University, and team UI beat the FTU team 63-5. It was a solid performance from the UI basketball team as they restricted the first Technical University team to only a point in the first quarter. In the second game, UI beat Lead City university 48-24. They then sealed qualification after beating Lautech 36-27 in a close encounter.
In an interview with Muazu Mijinyawa, he expressed his elation with the turn of events. “It went wonderfully well, at least we were the one most favoured to qualify so we built on that momentum and we did what we had to do. Also, with the team cohesion, it was a wonderful round game and performance,” he said.
Meanwhile, UI also showed their prowess In Judo, Team UI participated in seven categories, securing qualification in all seven categories.
The same domination occurred in badminton, scrabble, Tennis, and Squash, Team UI qualified for the sports at the main NUGA events at the University of Lagos. It was the same story in Taekwondo, as the Taekwondo athletes dazzled and ten of them qualified for the finals.
In the track and field event, UI’s athletes also recorded huge victories. Athletes in 100m, 200m, 800m, 3000m, 8000m, and 4×100m, high jump(men and women), shot put, javelin, and discus did outstandingly well to qualify for the finals.
In the 100m (Men), Egbeyemi Bowofoluwa (Mechanical Engineering) emerged as first, while his counterpart from the same department, Adeola, came second.
In the 100m (Women), Tinuola came first and Shola of the Department of Psychology came second. In the 200m (Men), Muhammed from the Faculty of Technology came first, while in the 800m (Men), Agboola Raphael from the Faculty of Law secured the first position.
Also, in the 1500m (Men), Agboola Raphael (Faculty of Law) came first, while in the 3000m (Men), Sesugh from the College of Medicine came first. He replicated his feat in the 10000m race, as he clinched the first position.
The UI handball, Volleyball, and Table tennis teams were not left out in the scheme of things as they all beat their opponents to qualify for the finals.
REPRESENTATIVES LAMENT LACK OF SUPPORT FROM UI MANAGEMENT
Despite these huge victories recorded across all sports, players representing the first and the best decried the lack of support from the UI management and their lukewarm attitude to their welfare.
In an interview with a member of the basketball team, Folorunsho Iyanuoluwa Samuel, he lamented that players in the team have been the ones catering for their own needs and that they’ve not been given any monetary assistance to prosecute the Pre-NUGA campaigns.
“They said they are going to support us, but what of before then what’s our gain. We have dedicated so much to training, we didn’t go home for the holidays, but the school is not giving us anything.” Samuel said.
However, some players gave contrasting stories, as they stated that they have started receiving their allowance for the Pre-NUGA games.
Pasadena Eniola, a judoka from the department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics confirmed that they had started receiving some allowances.
“Ohhh yeah there is, Not everybody has been paid yet, though, that’s what I know they just started paying yesterday but payment is for Pre-NUGA participation.”
Muazu Mijinyawa, a postgraduate student of the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of the Social Sciences also confirmed that athletes had started receiving allowances. However, he stated that some members of the team were yet to receive theirs
“Yeah, they said there is camping allowance and competition allowance but then, we are yet to be paid, some just got theirs today.”
However, Oluwarotimi Joseph, the captain of the UI football team (The Pioneers) said he wasn’t aware of any payment of allowances. Oluwarotimi, also a postgraduate student of the Department of Microbiology in the Faculty of Science, said his goal is to train and play games.
“I don’t have any info on this. We have just been going to training and playing the games.”
When asked whether he has received any allowance, he said ” as of today no”
Earlier while commenting on the welfare of the student’s athletes, the UISU sports secretary Olawale Joshua Babatunde said the welfare of the student-athletes is paramount to the UI management. He said, “about the welfare of the sportsmen and women, the school is working on it. For the payment of their allowance and accommodation during these games. It was late to accommodate people early, we didn’t accommodate people early. About that also, the payment of their allowance is being worked upon.”
Confirming the development, the UISU sports secretary affirmed that UI management has started paying the athletes’ allowances and that every athlete would get their allowances soon. He appreciated the cooperation of the athletes, management, and the entire student populace for their unalloyed support throughout the Pre-NUGA.
With qualifications now secured, attention is shifted to the main NUGA competition which is set to commence on the 16th of March. We wish the UI contingent a favourable performance in the competition.
