A 52-minute strike was all that defending champions, College of Management Sciences (COLMASS), needed to win the Vice Chancellor’s Cup of the 4^th edition of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Students Football League.

Lanky forward, Akunna Johnson, beat an off-side trap to collect a pass and had no difficulty slotting the ball into the empty net after beating the on-rushing College of Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology and Extension (CAERSE) goalkeeper to register the only goal of the crunchy finals to send spectators at the mini-stadium of the university wild with jubilation.

COLMASS created several chances during the first-half but failed to convert any, just like their opponents who caused anxious moments with some shots at goals.

The match almost ended in a fracas when angry CAERSE fans hoping for an equaliser attempted to pounce on the centre referee for signalling the end of the game few minutes to regulation time.

The 10 Colleges of the university participated in the 25 days action-packed football league which saw the College of Engineering Technology beat the College of Agricultural Education 3-2 on penalties to win the third place.

Before taking the kick-off, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hillary Edeoga, had expressed happiness that MOUAU was achieving its purpose of galvanising the students into a sporting family, assuring that sports development would be given priority, just like academics.

“The university management will not leave any stone unturned in the development of sports in the institution,” the VC said, adding, “MOUAU will continue to engage the students more in sports than allowing them to engage in any deviant activities.”

Edeoga commended the students for their enthusiasm in the games and charged them to prepare adequately to be able to win the next National University Games (NUGA).

Chairman of MOUAU Sports Committee, Engr. Christopher Chukwurah, described the bi-annual tournament as gainful recreational venture for discovering talents, fostering unity among students and colleges of the school and to pick representatives for various inter-university games.

Chukwurah said the school was in dire need of another football pitch on account of growing student population, indoor-sports hall and athletics tracks to facilitate all-round sports development.

*Photo: MOUAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Edeoga