Zik vs ABH: Unveiling the Opposition’s Mind
By Thunder Balogun
On the 12th of July, the terror on the field, the Nnamdi Azikwe Hall football team go toe-to-toe with the Alexander Brown Hall football team in the opening match of the inter-hall competition; a match that promises to be enthralling, dust-puffing and exciting.
While Zik walk into this competition as the defending champion, looking to secure the ultimate prize two times in a row, the Alexander Brown Hall coach, Mark Obeya, does not see Zik as too much of a threat that should be dreaded.
In this light, this reporter approached Mark to torchlight into his thoughts, tactics, preparations, expectations and analysis towards this huge face-off.
Good morning, Mark.
Good morning.
Can you please introduce yourself?
I’m Mark Obeya, a 6th year MBBS student. The coach of the ABH male football team.
How has been your preparations for the match against Zik football team?
The preparation is going well.
Do you think you have what it takes to beat the Baluba Lions?
It is a game of football and as long as it is 11 against 11, anyone can win or lose. So, I guess we’ll have to wait for the final whistle to know but yes, I have trust in my players.
You trust your players to beat the Baluba Lions, is that what you are saying?
If Zik do not think they can beat us, they won’t be coming to the game, would they? So, yes it is because we also think we can win, that is why we are coming for the game. So, at the end of the full time, we will see what happens.
What do you think is Zik’s major strength?
Generally, they have good and strong players and a lot of options to choose from, and that a lot of these players play competitive high level games frequently.
Are you scared of Zik?
In any case and to be clear, I’m not. If I were, I’d not be preparing for the match or showing up at all.
Zik has a popular saying that “they are the terror on the field, Azikwe never ever fails”, what do you think of that?
I think it is cute but I have seen them fail a number of times in different things whether sports, public speaking and anything else. Let us see if they will succeed in this one and many times in the past, even in this same competition, they haven’t been terrifying enough. So, maybe they are terrors of the field or can be or maybe not, that is not really our business on this side. It is theirs.
Who won the last inter-hall football competition?
I think the inter-hall that was supposed to hold last time was cancelled due to Covid. I think this is the first inter-hall since then. The last one was 2018 and ABH lost in their first round to Indy. I was in Tedder Hall then.
Zik won the last inter-hall football competition.
Okay. What year was that?
2021. Is that not terrific enough?
It is cute and to what end is this question, dear pressman?
What can you say about Zik football tactics?
I can’t say i know about that. It will be left for their coaches to determine.
Do you know the coach of the Baluba Lions?
No, I don’t.
What is your score line prediction?
I’m not a fan of predictions. So, I can’t make one but I expect a good game.
Who do you think has a better ancestral sport excellence between Zik or ABH?
I don’t have the answer to that because I don’t have data for it but I do know that ABH has had some of the best footballers from UI. We should also consider the fact that a lot of Brownites over the years are people that crossed from Zik and other UI main campus and halls. So, if we were to consider it, I don’t know if it will be statistically accurate or not to include the contribution of those Brownites to Zik hall excellence or that of ABH.
Thanks for your time. I hope you make your ancestors proud next week Tuesday.
The match is Wednesday and thank you.
Oh! my bad. Thanks for correcting me. Final words?
Nothing much except that I look forward to the match and I expect a good game.
