By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Kaduna State University (KASU), with a total of four gold, three silver and two bronze medals have emerged champions of the maiden edition of Kaduna Metropolitan Tertiary Institutions Sports Festival, which ended at the Sports Centre of Greenfield University City Campus, Kudenda, Kaduna on Saturday night.
Hard fighting Kaduna Polytechnic (Kadpoly), lost narrowly to KASU, after playing 1-1 draw at full time in an explosive male soccer encounter on the final day of the three-day event
Kadpoly settled for second position with four gold and two silver medals, in spite of not fielding athletes in all events.
Third position was won by the colourful Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), which stood out as the best kitted team from observation by our correspondent, after they picked three gold, five silver and four bronze medals.
Hosts Greenfield University, settled for the fourth spot on the medals table, with an impressive hurl of one gold, two silver and four bronze medals, in spite of being the team with the youngest players.
Speaking on the sidelines of the closing ceremony, Pro Chancellor of Greenfield University, Engineer Simon Nwakacha (Onwa of Umueri) in an interview with newsmen, said that the competition was smooth without hitches.
“It has gone very well, the facilities are beautiful, they are world class,” he said.
When asked if the next edition would be expanded to accommodate tertiary institutions in Kaduna State, he said the decision solely lies with the organisers.
“For the next edition, it is left for organisers to determine if to expand it to cover entire state or not.
“But we must appreciate the importance of sports to individual, community and national development.
“Some of these national problems being faced could be solved through such competitions by keep youth busy.
“I want to ask the Federal Government, states and pubic spirited individuals to key into such events.
“Sports can promote our country’s image. Fir instance, when Tobi Amusan broke the world record, she did Nigeria proud,” he said.
Engineer Nwakacha therefore, praised the organisers for doing a good job.
“I praise the organisers of the event, I must single out the Vice Chancellor of Greenfield University who ran up and down to ensure success of the event. Even though they didn’t receive much help, except from the participating schools who sponsored their teams,” he said.
Still emphasizing the importance of sports to the overall development of humans, he said, “sports improves health condition and if someone has good health condition, he will do well in academics. For students to excel, they need sports facilities, that is why Greenfield put up these facilities,” he stressed.
In his brief remarks when speaking to newsmen, Vice Chancellor of Greenfield University, Professor Simon Katung said that the success of the maiden metropolitan sports festival is a morale booster.
He thanked all who made it a reality, singling out the participating institutions and athletes, for putting up excellent performance.
Head Coach of KASU, Ibrahim Abdullahi who was excited about his teams’ performances, said that they won gold medal in football, female volleyball and other medals in table tennis and badminton, which were hosted at KASU.
Coach James Fungen, of the Kadpoly Basketball team said that by next edition more teams will participate.
He said that their team came prepared and won male and female gold medals in basketball.
On what made the feat possible, he said that being in school together for two years, made them blend and understand each other.
Also speaking, Kadpoly Volleyball Coach, Joseph Kukuyi said that the bulk of players before coming to the sports festival, didn’t know magnitude.
“We won the volleyball gold for male, but didn’t come with a female team.
“For volleyball male, kadpoly has always had an edge,” he boasted.
At the medals and trophies presentation ceremony, Israel Baba Musa from Greenfield University won Special Award For Participating In All Events.
