Infrastructural woes dampen spirits as SEUGA Games kick-off in Nnamdi Azikiwe University
(Awka, Made In Africa Sport) – Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) inaugurated the fifth edition of the Southeast University Games (SEUGA) on Thursday, 25 January 2024, with a 0-0 draw against the Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) in the opening match of the men’s football competition.
In its fifth edition, the tournament marks a significant milestone for SEUGA, celebrating its 20th anniversary. The zonal varsity event aims to provide opportunities for talented student-athletes in the southeast to discover hidden gems.
Professor Charles Esimone, UNIZIK’s vice-chancellor, welcomed participants and outlined his vision of transforming the university into a global leader within the “Project 200” initiative aimed at putting UNIZIK among the best 200 universities in the world.
He highlighted the newly constructed auditorium as a testament to the university’s commitment to excellence.
High Praise for Preparations
The opening ceremony saw dignitaries expressing their admiration for UNIZIK’s efforts in hosting the games.
Professor Mohammed Bawa, president of the Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA), praised the university’s preparation while delivering his speech, stating, “UNIZIK can compete with the first-generation universities.”
Dr Felix Obiukwu, president of SEUGA, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the vice-chancellors of all southeastern universities for their rapid financial support.
He emphasised the event’s dual purpose: to provide opportunities for talented student-athletes in the southeast and to discover hidden gems.
With a passionate plea, he implored officials to uphold unwavering fairness, guided by principles of love, understanding, and friendship, concluding his remarks by wishing everyone a joyful and competitive journey throughout the games.
Opening Game Highlights and Reactions
Despite enjoying the majority of ball possession, UNIZIK struggled to translate their dominance into goals. The first half saw several missed opportunities, with Henry and Chimaobi’s shots going off target and Henry’s header easily saved by the ESUT goalkeeper.
ESUT, on the other hand, adopted a more aggressive approach, receiving three yellow cards compared to UNIZIK’s one.
The second half mirrored the first, with UNIZIK unable to capitalise on their chances. A crucial clearance by Chimaobi prevented a potential ESUT goal, but neither team managed to break the deadlock.
Even a comical moment from ESUT’s goalkeeper, Mesach, who tripped while trying to save a corner, couldn’t spark any offensive momentum.
UNIZIK coach Bebeto Udennaka, while disappointed with the result, praised his team’s effort and their focus on avoiding any altercations. He acknowledged the importance of the point earned and expressed confidence in securing wins in their remaining matches. Captain Pepe echoed his coach’s optimism, thanking the fans for their support and vowing to strive for victory in their upcoming games.
ESUT coach Ibeh Maxwell, despite his team’s lack of full preparation, remained positive about the draw, viewing it as a starting point for improvement in subsequent matches. He commended his players for their performances and encouraged them to continue their efforts.
Analyst Laments Poor Field Quality
Football analyst Ugochukwu Chinonso expressed disappointment with the field’s quality, claiming it hindered the flow of the game and limited scoring opportunities because of its uneven distribution of sand.
“It was a low-quality game that could be attributed to the poor quality of the playing turf,” Chinonso told UCJ UNIZIK. “The game had a lot of drama, and both teams gave it their all, but it didn’t meet up to our expectations; we were disappointed.”
“I was told that the school had built a stadium; I came expecting a good playing surface with adequate grass, but to my disappointment, there is more sand on the pitch than grass. There’s no way you can play a proper football match in that condition.”
“The playing surface disappointed them and hindered their ability to pass, move, and run with the ball, and it happened that way,” he said.
Chinonso also called for the need for further infrastructure development by the school management to support high-level sporting events.
More on SEUGA 2024
The other participating institutions in SEUGA 2024 include Michael Opara University, Imo State University (IMSU), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Abia State University (ABSU), Alex Ekwueme University, Paul University, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University, and Spiritan University—the only private university positioned to compete with Federal and State Universities.
These institutions will showcase their prowess in various sports disciplines, including table tennis, tennis, track and field events, basketball, football, handball, volleyball, combat sports, and board games.
The designated venues for the competitions are as follows: the University Main Stadium (Beautiful Gate) for male football, Ccoke Centre Field for female football, Bakassi Sports Complex for volleyball and basketball, and the New Faculty of Education building for scrabble, chess, and table tennis.
The SEUGA events are scheduled to continue on Friday and will extend through Tuesday, 30 January 2024.
