*365 days is the number of counts in a year, 7 makes a week, but only 2 teams made it to the deans cup football finals and just 1 was crowned champion.*
*Flashback to the Kick off of the sports festival, from the marathon race to the masks festivals, to the several jersey outfits before the main events took place.*
*Sports included Basketball, volleyball and football. Other sports included board games; ludo, chess,and scrabble,not forgetting track events as well.* *It was assumed by many that nature approved the festival of games as a week before the start of this event, there was a heavy, very heavy downpour of rain accompanied by unclear cloud but it was the complete opposite when the deans games started and the participants and organisers were glad.*
*The event took place for a length of six days as teams battled it out against each other in the various sports with only finalists considered the real competitors.*
*Most fans priorities was on the football finals,so will this write-up.*
*Team GEO SCIENCES and MARINE SCIENCES were the titans who made it to the finals with COMPUTER SCIENCES and CHEMISTRY battling for third place. The latter however showed superiority by edging out on penalty Kicks after a 0-0 draw in what I describe to be a hornlock. This started and finished with less debates on the match outcome by the scanty spectators.*
*Few minutes passed on the clock, and the footsteps of those we heard next were those of fans in a black jersey with a shade of orange on its arms.* *These are GEO SCIENCES football team fans. They were everywhere, even the cloud looked to have changed it's colour to that of these supporters. The stadium looked set, with a disc jockey in hand to put people out of boredom accompanied by the ever-eloquent Faculty of sciences welfare Secretary HAMMED OLAWALE CATALYST in hand to MC the event. Few moments later, other fans on blue attires started filing the podium in scanty numbers giving impression of who really craved success for their team.*
*Both teams matched on to the pitch from an aisle accompanied by deafening chants from respective fans. This was it, only one team will walk away with the champions cup and gold medal while the other just bite her nails in regret and settle for silver.*
*First half started and the noise from the stands were not looking to subside. The referee had assistant referees usually referred to as linemen on opposite ends of the pitch to help him in some decision making. It was GEO who played the ball around from the midfield as they took their calm and wanted to impress their fans in the same vein. MSM tried as much as possible not to get all their men out to do the marking as they sat back and watched GEO possess them for few minutes. GEO soon brought on their first real threat by exploring MSM right back, playing their way through the left wing and making fine passes, without wasting time, an accurate kick was shot towards MSM goalkeeper which went straight to the right goal post but MSM left back, BELLO was in hand to clear off to safety and there was an emotional reaction from GEO fans. GEO continued to press on while MSM was still trying to find their balance. GEO continued to mount pressure on MSM from both sides of the pitch putting MSM on the back foot, keeping their outnumbered fans mute while GEO fans yelled the slogan "GINGER" from afar. This however contributed in building more confidence for GEO players in the process. GEO once again directed the wind to MSM left back as they had 2 to 3 players exploit the left full back as little or no threat was displayed from the middle. It was not as if MSM are weaklings but odds have even gone against them before the start of the match and maybe they let this get to them. Their manager will surely be disappointed in this performance compared to their ship-wrecking display in their semi final match against CHM which got them to this stage of the competition.*
*GEO goalie PEDRO was soon tested as MSM SNAZZ made a promising run down the left for a through ball but PEDRO was quickest to react as he rushed out to save the ball, although this took him about 2 touches. MSM later coordinated themselves and also tried their attack from the wings too but much of the ball thrown at USMAN was either given a heavy touch or he was subdued by GEO left full back REBEL, (an outstanding performer since the start of the competition),his size compared to USMAN 's small physique was another contributing factor. REBEL stamped his authority again as done in previous matches as he dribbled his way to the midfield before laying a pass. A form of confidence only few defenders can boast of. The first half ended with little threats from both sides as well as little casualties.*
*Second half beckoned, the concluding part of the game that will probably be a faith-decider for either team. Players from both teams had enough time to rest and do team talks and it was left for both teams to give results. The game resumed with a tempo almost ten times that of the first half. GEO looked a bit more defensive while MSM brought their game upfront but their forward line was no match for GEO dogged defence line. Once an attack wad initiated by MSM,engineered by arguably MSM best player on the pitch FEMI, who commanded the whole midfield with authority, even recovering every lost ball to the opponent, his height and long legs a factor though. FEMI soon looked to be fading as it was like all his hardwork was just to favour his opponents. It was GEO who made the first tactical substitution. It soon paid off as GEO right winger, failed in several attempts in explorng MSM left back BELLO from the right who put up a 5 star performance compared to his first half indecisiveness on the ball. Tragedy struck when BELLO made a zero-contact tackle on GEO forward JOSH, and the referee blew for a free kick in a dangerous position on the right wing. The referee however got a boo from MSM fans for his controversial decision for giving the free kick. GEO winger IBK takes his kick well into MSM box and a poor handling from MSM goalie ODOLA, gifts GEO DA BEST his goal as he positions himself well and heads the ball into the net. GEO 1-0 MSM. MSM players looked disappointed in their goalkeeper as he made a worse error compared to this in their semi final tie against CBG which almost cost them the competition and now a second consecutive mediocrity from him. Few minutes later, the same goal culprit took a very low pass from goal kick which got to the mercy of GEO forward but his slow reaction gave ODOLA the chance to correct his mistake by racing out to kick the ball to safety. Not forgetting GEO goalkeeper, PEDRO, who in contrary to his opposition made up for his defender's errors.* *GEO supporters soon stepped down the podium to chant victory songs from the touchline.On seeing this, MSM knew time was surely against them as they all came out in full force to attack and put pressure on their opponent. This soon backfired as GEO turned defence into attack, with MSM centre backs just returning from GEO box, the ball was projected to GEO MAESTRO as he raced his way down the left wing, beating MSM right full back, with an empty backline, MSM goalie rushes out to play his part of defence but also failed in his attempt leaving the GEO winger open to an empty goal net,this was when the unimaginable happened; MSM left full back BELLO who has been racing back home from the beginning of the counter attack, with blistering speed, cleared the goal-bound effort by the GEO winger to safety. Applaud and mouth widening emotion followed from a higher percentage of the spectators. MSM recovered and continued with attack, this time forcing their opponents to commit fouls in dangerous positions near the box. With few minutes on the clock, the referee gave a free kick call in front of GEO box against MSM but with a strategy of running down the clock, GEO defender delayed the Kick and as the referee blew his whistle for him to take the Kick, the defender picked up the ball with his hands to reposition it,so the referee reversed his decision to give MSM the free-kick instead in a dangerous area near GEO box.GEO players were unhappy with the decision and some of their fans and coaching crew made violent gestures as well as invading the football pitch. The referee took his time by walking down to the violators to put things in order, another time wasting strategy by GEO maybe. The referee then came back, blew the whistle for MSM kick but the chance was wasted by the midfielders as they lost concentration and didn't know what they were to do on the ball.* *The wasted ball hit a deflection and found the presence of just-introduced substitute GARRETT who places the ball in the left hand corner of the net but the linesman calls for offside and there was another roar from the MSM fans. Fight broke in about 2 minutes later between GEO defender REBEL and MSM right back INNOCENT as to whom a throwing call was directed to. There was pushing from both players, this went on and it turned to a public affair as fans from both teams stormed the pitch again to take sides. The referee once again got to the scene and calmed things down once more. The ball was delayed to throwing several times in the dying seconds and soon enough, came a sound that broke MSM heart but brought joy to GEO ; it was the referees whistle for end of the game. GEO supporters stormed the pitch and celebrated with their players joyfully, lifting their goalkeeper up in the air and chorus the word "PEDRO SAVES" and there was no doubt about this as he did well to keep a cleansheet in the tournament while MSM players walked off the pitch broken.*
*This marked the end of the road for MSM in pursue of a dean's cup glory in 4 years and a beginning of the same for GEO.*
*The Dean of sciences was in hand to present gold, silver and bronze medals to GEO, MSM and CHM respectively.*
*Individual performances awards for the title "MOST PROMISING PLAYER" were also given to the following players; LALA{CHM }(gold) , PEDRO {GEO }(silver), BELLO{MSM }( bronze ).*
*Whether you are a player, a fan or a critique, one thing is for sure; nothing or no one will have more influence on the outcome of the game except the willingness and efforts put in towards winning. It's the science sports festival 2017, I really do hope you have been SPORTIFIED.*
*Reporting; BELLO DAMILOLA {defence_minister} (MARINE SCIENCE LEVEL 200)*
*Brought to you by: ADESHINA PAUL ABIODUN (ULSSA Sports Secretary)*
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