UNSUNG HEROES: A Walk Through The Lives of Student-Athletes At The University Of Ibadan 

Mahbubat Salahudeen

For many students, striking a balance between academics and social life is challenging enough. Add competitive sports to the mix, and it becomes a seemingly impossible hurdle to surmount. Yet, for a group of students, juggling these tasks has become their own reality. At an institution where academics take precedence over sports, student-athletes at the University of Ibadan are perhaps the most overlooked yet dedicated groups of students on campus. Over time, however, sports have garnered significant attention and engagement, drawing crowds of students—primarily as spectators—to events such as football matches at the Old Sub pitch, or swimming competitions at the Student Union Building pool to mention a few.

With every strike of the ball that leads to a goal, every triumphant checkmate, and every splash as swimmers glide through the pool, the crowd erupts in celebration. But behind these moments of glory are the sacrifices and relentless effort that make them a possibility. 

For student-athletes at the University of Ibadan, the journey extends far beyond the field, the pool, or the chessboard. From hurried lectures, to rigorous training routines, skipping tests and missing out on social events, these athletes live a reality that often goes unnoticed as they grapple not only with need to excel in their sports, but also in academics and personal growth. 

However, behind the shared identity as student-athletes, each individual possesses a uniquely challenging journey of their own. So in order to get a glimpse of their life, AFAS Press spoke with some of these student athletes: a football player, a chess player, a taekwondo player, and a swimmer who has recently graduated.

On his account, John Oluwatimilehin, a football player and 400l student of the department of Philosophy reflected on his challenges as a student-athlete “It is difficult” He tells AFAS Press during a WhatsApp interview on Saturday. “There are times I attended classes immediately after training when I should be resting and recovering, and other times I train or play matches in the morning after staying up all night to read.” 

John’s football journey began as a childhood hobby, but has since evolved into passion. Over the years he has played for a couple of ‘semi-professional’ football clubs including Eminence FC in Mowe and E. E. F. C in Ibadan before his admission to pursue a degree in Philosophy. He is also a pivotal member of the UI football team and his departmental team.

Onyetube Laura Akuabia, a chess player and one of UI’s 13-man squad at the 11th All-African University Games (FASU Games) in Lagos, also shares similar sentiments. Being a multi- sports athlete, and a chess player for fourteen years, Laura acknowledges the difficulties of balancing her dual identities as a student and an athlete. Reflecting on the challenges she encountered and the difficulty of striking a balance between school and sports, she referenced her role during the recently concluded All-African University Games in Lagos state, Nigeria.  “One notable instance was during the FASU Games. The rigorous training and preparation before the competition clashed with my academic schedule, and I ended up missing a test. While I was able to write the test at a later date, catching up on the material I missed was quite tasking”. However, despite being a second-year student studying Petroleum Engineering, Laura believes that these sacrifices are worthwhile, “Although these sacrifices are challenging, they’ve taught me resilience and the importance of time management.” She says

John and Laura’s experiences underscores a fraction of sacrifices that student-athletes endure and speaking of sacrifices, the dedication required to thrive as a student-athlete often extends beyond physical effort and academic commitment. For some, it encompasses leadership and personal transformation and such is the case of John Rehoboth Olukanni, a former student-athlete whi graduated recently. 

Initially having a phobia of water and being overly conscious about his physique, Rehoboth journey as a swimmer began in his second year when he was forced to learn the basics of the sports in preparation for a course he was to take in his third year.

“Honestly, I only started swimming because of my department. I couldn’t swim because I was scared of water.” He revealed.

Unable to afford a coach, Rehoboth engaged in self-training, having drafted a strict schedule which allowed him practice swimming daily, while focusing on mastering different techniques over consecutive days. “I did not have the money to pay a coach so I opted to practice swimming at the Swimming pool at SUB.” In addition to his inability to afford a trainer, another difficulty arose. He could not afford the entry fee to swim at the swimming pool, but was able to practice swimming thanks to a friend who offered to pay his fee. “I had a friend help me with the entry fee which was one hundred naira back then.” He recalled. 

In a matter of months, he was invited to join the swimming team of the university but he only managed to train with the team once as his journey was cut short when the pandemic began, but that was never a hinderance to his passion for the sport. “During the pandemic, I couldn’t swim but I did a lot of research on swimming because I read about swimming a lot. Also, I was working out and that’s how I built my body”

The end of the Covid-19 pandemic marked the beginning of a transformative journey in his passion for the sport. He alongside a female freshman had represented his faculty, the Faculty of Education in the swimming category at the Inter-faculty Sports competition—his first ever competition as a swimmer—but that was not without its challenges. 

The pool was drained during the pandemic and remained out of use until this year, so I had no pool to train in,” he recounted. “There was an upcoming competition—the inter-faculty meet—but by then, I had already developed an interest in football because it didn’t require as much money to play. Swimming is costly; you need a swimming truck, goggles, a cap, entry fees, and other expenses.”

However, his budding interest in football quickly soured after an experience with his teammates. “I swore to never play football again and decided to stick with swimming.”

Initially turning down the female freshman, Rehoboth later reached out to her, and together they began preparing for the tournament at Lead City University. Despite the lack of a swimming pool on campus and their inability to afford the entry fee for off-campus facilities, they pressed on.

Despite receiving no support from his faculty, his performance at the tournament was nothing short of remarkable. He won the highest number of medals in his sport including two gold medals, two silvers and two bronzes, solidifying his place as the fastest swimmer on campus. According to Rehoboth, the experience at the tournament was great but it also strengthened his passion for swimming which led him to establish the first ever swimming team in his faculty. 

Rehoboth took it a step further, organizing free swimming campaigns and training students who shared his interest. Though some members left due to the demands of the sport, Rehoboth’s team of five went on to win 14 gold medals in the Inter-Faculty Sports competition.

Rehoboth’s remarkable achievement not only underscores the power of individual leadership and dedication, but it helped revive a new wave of interest in swimming at the faculty and this feat was widely acknowledged and celebrated at his faculty. “It was a moment of pure joy,” he says. “When we received the cup, the Faculty President and the Dean were there. She was shocked, especially since I wasn’t exactly known for being the most popular student. But it remains one of my biggest achievements.”

But for all their sacrifices, student-athletes often rely on their friends, family or coaches for support. When John had a career-threatening injury earlier this year, having damaged his Medial Collateral Ligament in February, he recalled the support from his friends, and teammates was very crucial in overcoming that phase. 

“I was absolutely terrified (that) I might never be able to play again at some point. (It) nearly got me depressed. Thankfully, with support from family, friends, teammates, my coach and proper medical care, I’m fully recovered from the injury now.”

Adetunji Sunday Lawrence has had a similar experience.  Sunday is a 500-level law student and he  engages in Taekwondo, a sport began practicing in 2018. Despite the ‘difficulty’ that comes with merging academics and sports, for athletes who engage in sports that require physical rigour. Injuries are an expected normalcy. “There are always minor injuries like sprains, muscle pulls, and lots more.”

But Sunday’s biggest injury was a fracture which he sustained during his preparation for the NUGA Games in 2022, that kept him out of sport for a while. “I was referred to UCH where I underwent treatment. It was so challenging, emotionally. I was indoors for over a month.” He chuckled. Sunday’s recovery process was another challenge. Describing it as a slow process, Sunday’s recovery from the fracture was a personal challenge, but with support from friends, coach and family, that’s a story he now recalls

Beyond the physical toll, the life of a student-athlete presents challenges that extend into other aspects of their lives. The sacrifices required are not limited to the field or training ground; they also permeate their social interactions and academic engagements, creating a multifaceted struggle that demands resilience.

Speaking on how sports has affected her social life, Laura admits that social life is more of a luxury that takes a backseat in her commitment to sports and studies. “My social life has definitely been impacted by my commitments. There are times when I’ve had to miss out on gatherings or events with friends because of training, competitions, or academic deadlines.” However, Laura remains optimistic as she believes the tradeoffs as a part of a bigger picture “While it’s a sacrifice, I remind myself of the bigger picture and how these experiences shape my growth.”

While Laura embraces the sacrifices as part of her journey,  student-athletes like John recognize that certain changes could make the experience more balanced and rewarding. To him their sacrifices (as student-athlete) often feel like a personal battle rather than a shared responsibility.

“The school has no program or system to support academic flexibility for its athletes, and this discourages a lot of talented students from participating in sports.”  He stated. 

According to Sunday, the university of Ibadan does not give as much importance as it should to sports. “I think the university doesn’t sponsor sports as they should” Sunday added. “Sometimes, some athletes are forced to miss tests while representing the institution in major tournaments. It happened recently during the FASU Games, some athletes had to return to school to write their (GES) exams before heading back to Lagos again.”

He also believes there are gaps to be filled in ensuring that student-athletes are well represented in UI. He suggested that support be made available in terms of ‘sponsorship, and academic security’ for the students. 

While the challenges of balancing academics, social life, and sports may seem overwhelming, the accomplishments of these student-athletes tell a story of resilience and triumph. Beyond the sacrifices and struggles, their hard work culminates in moments of glory that resonate not just within their respective faculties but across the entire campus. From setting records to clinching medals, their victories serve as a testament to their unwavering commitment to their passions.

“My proudest achievement as a student-athlete would be winning the Interhall Freshers’ Cup during my first year as a team captain. It was an incredible moment for me because it was my first major leadership role in sports at the university, and we faced tough competition” Laura said. Some other proud moments of hers include winning the gold medal in the Interfaculty Chess Tournament and clinching two medals in chess at the just concluded 11th All-African Universities games

Like Laura, Sunday had also represented the school at the FASU Games where he secured the only gold medal in Taekwondo for his institution. An achievement he describes to be one of his proudest moments. “It was an international competition which saw different universities from Africa participate. I was so happy and I’m glad it’s something I can look back at.” he said heartily. 

Being no stranger to victory, John has also made a name for himself as a formidable striker on campus. He is presently the all-time highest goal scorer in the Seals Cup with 14 goals across three campaigns, alongside  2 AFAS Dean’s Cup trophy, an AFAS Super 4 trophy, a SEALS Cup golden boot and trophy for the 2022/23 Super Cup Cup where he added a goal to his name. 

These achievements are a reminder of the resilience, camaraderie, and passion that define their careers. As Laura puts it: “These achievements represent the balance I’ve worked hard to maintain as both a student and an athlete.”

Despite the numerous challenges they face, from academic pressure to physical strains, the achievements of student athletes in the University of Ibadan is a testament of their resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment. As these athletes continue to make their mark in sports and academics, it is high time the university recognizes this dedication and provides the support they truly deserve, rewarding their hard work with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.