By: Ibikunle Sodeeq Opeyemi
The formal opening of the 21st edition of the NBTE/Nigeria Polytechnics Senior Staff Games Association (NIPOSSGA) took place on Saturday, September 16th at the main pitch, North Campus, The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
The procession which was anchored by the institution’s Public Relation Officer (PRO), Alhaji Soladoye Adewole, started with the recognition of dignitaries and personalities present at the occasion. National Anthem, Oyo State anthem and The Polytechnic, Ibadan anthem recitations was led by the Music Technology Department students present at the event. Shortly after, a parade by all competing institutions took place where all competing institutions were duly recognized.
The host Rector, Engr. Kazeem Adébìyí Adekunle in his welcome speech admonished participants to compete with the spirit of sportsmanship and as well use the opportunity to network.
The President of NIPOSSGA, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu, who also represented NBTE Executive Secretary, in his speech stressed the importance of sport to humanity while encouraging participants to cooperate so as to have a memorable competition. Prof. Abdulwaheed Saliu Adelabu, the Oyo State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology who represented the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Abiodun Oluseyi Makinde, extended the Governor’s goodwill message and admonished participants to compete with love and oneness.
The competition was then declared open by Prof. Abdulwaheed Saliu Adelabu, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology with a ball kick on the football pitch, as the host institution took on the defending champion, Federal Polytechnic Offa, in the opening football match of the competition.
The first half of the match served spectators with skillful displays and goal scoring opportunities, as both teams came close to breaking the deadlock. 30 minutes into the game, spectators were full of zeal and enthusiasm for their performance. Few minutes to the end of the first half, both teams maintained their control of the game, playing with confidence as they sustained ball possession.
Shortly after the start of the second half, a player of Federal Polytechnic Offa fired in a spectacular strike that put his team ahead in the game, and made the score line 1-0 in favour of the defending champion.
Twenty-nine minutes to the end of the game, Federal Polytechnic Offa again netted a beautiful goal, making the score 2 goals to nil. However, The Polytechnic, Ibadan team sat deep on counter attack and were determined to get back into the game, but eventually, the match ended 2-0 in favour of Federal Polytechnic Offa.
After the sound of the final whistle that declared Federal Polytechnic Offa the winner, the Chief Coach of the team, Coach Onijala in an interview with Press Council correspondents, said; “Federal Polytechnic Offa has always been a force to reckon with in the competition, having won the last two editions – 2018 and 2021.” He further stressed that they hope to replicate their previous performances at this year’s edition.
Dr. Babatunde Akeredolu, The Chief Coach of The Polytechnic, Ibadan team described how elated he was because the opening event was hitch free. He thereby stated that the competition continues tomorrow with nine games fixtures, to start by 8:00 am in the morning.
By Monday, all other games categories of the competition will commence; he asserted.
