Having qualified to the quarterfinal stage of the Oyo State Tertiary Institution Football Competition, the University of Ibadan football team, UI Pioneers, have failed to make headway in the competition.
UI Pioneers had defeated the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, MOOR Plantation, in the previous stage by one goal to nil. However, the UI side got knocked out by the Federal School of Statistics in an away match that ended 1-nil to the School of Survey.
The match which was played on the 2nd of November kicked-off at 2:30pm. The first half began with both teams determined to win. After some minutes, the UI Pioneers got a chance to put the ball behind the net but did not convert it as Bolu Philip, UI’s forward, couldn’t connect with the ball. At the end of the first 45 minutes, the match was still goalless.
The second half began after the players took some rest. The match continued in
a goalless draw but after few minutes, the referee awarded a penalty in favour of
the Federal School of Statistics. This gave rise to an atmosphere of confusion as the referee had reportedly displayed classic Anthony Taylor with his decision.
According to the Student Union’s Sport Secretary, the linesman called the attention of the referee to let him know that the penalty shouldn’t be awarded but the ref was too obstinate to see reason, and so remained firm with his call. The Federal School of Statistics converted the penalty to put UI behind.
The ref didn’t stop at this level of unprofessionalism as he overlooked a penalty
that should have been awarded in favour of the UI pioneers. One of the players in the opponent’s team committed a foul in the box. Failure to make a penalty call to UI’s favour raised comments of gross unfairness on the part of the officiators.
When The UI Student Union Treasurer, who was present, went to the linesman to point out the referee’s arbitrariness, the linesman only made a mockery sign and
a sarcastic comment. By the time the match was over and UI’s defeat was certain, the SU Sport Secretary concluded that “UI’s loss was due to poor officiating”. Having crashed out of the competition, the Sport Secretary confirmed that UI is presently not participating in any competition.
It is however noteworthy that the following Zikites represented the school in the competition, J. Kareem, who is also ZIk hall’s Sport Minister, Afolabi, and Olabamiwo Emmanuel, who wore the captain band for UI.
Thunder Balogun
