The peculiarity of new tenures is a new administration and it is no different in the 2022/2023 tenure in the University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association as new executives were sworn in on the 20th of May, 2022. Although, like the previous tenure, the office of the Sport Secretary was vacant and had to be filled by co-option. As at when due, David Akinnusoye of the Medicos Impeccabilem showed interest in filling the position and, after several due processes, was found eligible and was also co-opted on the 3rd of June, 2023.
David hit the ground running as there was no time to slack anymore since the tenure had started. Committees and sub-committees were established and the birth and implementation of plans got discussed by every involved party. A lot has been going on behind the scenes and the first plan came to fruition as a friendly match between the UIMSA female football team and Public Health female team was fixed on the 16th of June at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall’s Maracana. Both sides got ready and the match started within the hours of 5. This is the first of its kind in the last three years in the association and people were elated to come out.
It was a match featuring six players from each side expected to last 15 minutes per half. The kick-off whistle was blown and the girls started pacing around with the ball while cheerleaders from the stands encouraged them with their chants and humors. For the first five minutes of the first half, we had a series of long balls from both ends of the pitch getting deflected at the middle which, more often than not, birthed a counter attack. Nevertheless, both sides had shots on target at regular intervals until the first was converted into a goal in the 10th minute after a beautiful strike from Agnes(Oka) in the UIMSA female team. She got the ball in the middle of the field and paced a bit through the middle before sending the ball into the net with a straight shot.
UIMSAites gyrated from the stands while the match continued and banter kept flowing. After a series of attempts to double the lead/equalize the match opener, they went 1-nil at halftime. The girls rested for some minutes to get charged up for the second half and were called in when the break was over. Early into the second half, the Public Health female team became more threatening on the attack side as they fought for an equalizer. However, the UIMSA female goalie neutralised all possible threats that went past the last standing defender. Eight minutes into the second half, Eseosa(Oka) of the UIMSA female team converted an amazing pass into a goal after taking on two defenders and beautifully curling the ball into the top right corner. UIMSAites burst into joy and happiness as no one saw the goal coming, especially at a time when the previous attempts had been going off target. The Public Health female team felt tired as the UIMSA female team doubled the lead. Four minutes later, a third was added from Chidinma(Dexterity) as she gently rolled the ball into the bottom right corner. From that minute on, the UIMSA girls were just enjoying themselves with the ball, few substitutions were made to allow everyone to have a good time while the goalie consciously guarded the post to maintain the clean sheet.
Final whistle was blown and UIMSAites walked away with a clean sheet after putting 3 goals past Public Health’s goalie. Everyone gyrated and congratulated the girls for their hardwork and team spirit. David felt an insurmountable joy in his heart as it’s a huge win as the newly co-opted Sports Secretary in the University of Ibadan Medical Students’ Association. What a way to start the tenure!
Peter Adeyemo.
Well written.????????????