MBBS beats Computer Science to win the Seals Cup 2023 bronze medal after a 1:0 Win at SUB Pitch, UI.
The third-place match started at exactly 4:51 PM. In the spirit of ending the run with a victory after the painful semi-final loss, MBBS charged at the opponents, registering two shots – one from Karbon and Jide each – in the first minute. The intensity went on for the first five minutes and Computer Science won a corner while trying to charge back to level the threat. The corner kick was cleared out neatly by MBBS defenders and a counter attack ensued with Habeeb pacing on the right wing. He passed the ball to Dave – very close to the final third – who gently laid a final pass to Jide. The striker wasted no time in beating the goalkeeper to put the ball behind the net. The intensity paid off as the medics went up by a goal before the tenth minute of the game.
Computer Science got back into the game, trying to level the scoreline but Abang did a good job neutralising the dangerous balls. In the twelfth minute, Habeeb registered his first shot on target but the team’s intensity had drastically reduced. Coach Mark Obeya was seen calling his players to know what was wrong but nothing seemed clear. From the stands, while it was obvious that the MBBS players were not anywhere near their best, the officiating was nothing short of the regular shambolic performance that has been happening from previous games. The linesmen were making wrong throw-in calls and people were wondering why that is going on in a tournament of that esteem. After minutes of failed attempts at a second goal and an equalizer from both sides, the referee blew the halftime whistle.
The second half was underway exactly eleven minutes later with Mark Obeya making his first substitution of the game – Gerald for Ramoni. The scoreline remained the same and the MBBS coach made a double substitution six minutes later, bringing on Ola and Behemoth for Dave and Fu’aad. From the substitutions, it was obvious that the coach wanted fresh legs on the round leather towards the attacking half. In the 44th and 49th minute, Gerald and Jide got chances but were ruled offside before they could make anything out of it. Computer science kept winning setpieces but couldn’t convert anyone to level the scoreline. The fans admitted that the game – albeit not so interesting from the kickoff – got a tad bit boring in the second half. In the 58th minute, Adeoluwa made a crucial save for MBBS and volleyed the ball into the air but the referee blew the full time whistle and ended the game. A 1:0 win earned the medics a third-place position in the Seals Cup tournament.
This is what coach Mark Obeya, in a conversation with UIMSA Press, said after the game:
“Generally, it feels good to have won something. Emerging 3rd in a university-wide inter-departmental competition is no mean feat. Although, this group, this team, is special and we understood we could have achieved more. But we must also appreciate what we did.
About today’s game, we started well. But we didn’t control the midfield well after we scored. We did better in the second half. There were downsides with officiating, however. I think it was a bit difficult for the team as a whole, considering the disappointment that followed the semi final loss. But we managed it well. We now look forward to the Provost Cup. The team will continue to make improvements and as far as the SEALS Cup goes, UIMSA will be back next edition, and they’ll be stronger.”
Peter Adeyemo.