AFAS DEAN’S CUP CHANGES TO AFAS DEAN’S GAMES
Tajudeen Sadiq
Truly, there has been a modification in the name of AFAS annual sport competition; its name changed from AFAS Dean’s Cup to AFAS Dean’s Game. The change happened to it at the late hours of Friday as the Faculty Legislative Council approves it. AFAS Dean’s Cup which name has been changed to AFAS Dean’s Game is a game or competition that comprises of different types of sports (both indoor and outdoor games) where AFASites come out to show their talents and also win a prize. The games which AFASites will now compete to win include football, marathon, table tennis, and chess.
Yes, the Sport Director has made a rational decision and a good move, to change, to modify and to show AFASites that both the executives and the legislators are really trying their best to uplift the faculty and to lay a solid foundation for the coming administration. But, have these political arms done a good job to make AFASites proud? Are these arms not making some mistakes? Yes, they are making a lot of mistakes out of some decisions they take.
First, let us take a look at some of the mistakes that the former administration-the Shola Ojikutu led administration had made in comparison to what the present administration is doing. As regards sport, the present administration had done a good thing by adopting a new name for the Dean’s cup but they have also failed to make some good changes to promote the games under this competition. Most likely, it could be argued that they are working for their own personal interests and not that of AFASites. For instance, how logical does it sound when a game like table tennis has no prize tag attached to it? Undisputedly, it is a leisure game but it also a game that requires skills, therefore the same level of attention facilitated for football should also be given to tennis.
The Faculty Legislative Council also seems to be in pursuit of their own gain too. At the last sitting of the Council, one of the honourable members, honourable Suleiman Muhammad of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies highlighted the necessity to attach prizes to the marathon race, as he himself is an athlete and fully understands the pains and fun that comes with it. In his views, it is not a game of mere fun and it needs a prize because he is an athlete as well. Since it is true that we all know that marathon is not something that one can just stand up and start running around without any prize attached it, we can also argue that not attaching a prize tag to it is irrational.
Meanwhile, should this not be corrected, we can as well argue for the removal of the prizes attached to other sports. Perhaps, the sport director had failed to emphasize on the need to award these gamesbut the legislators ought to have viewed it from another perspective that representatives need to be motivated with the right incentives. Yet, it should not be a surprise. How can we seriously promote and encourage AFASites with sporting skills when the arts which we are known for suffer neglect.
If a game is taken with a levity, how can AFASites know those who are endowed, gifted or talent in the games neglected? Who knows if the next person who will represent the university and Nigeria at some international competition is an AFASites? This is not to say it is all about the money but it is no crime to appreciate the efforts participants put into winning a competition. The Sports Director should please seek sponsors for his laudable project if the association’s purse is too sick to vomit. The Premier Faculty can only rise in all areas of sporting event if every creative sports indulged in by AFASites are taken into consideration.
