FASU Games: Third place finish, worthy of celebrating – UNILAG Captain

Captain of Team University of Lagos at the just concluded 11th All Africa University Games ( FASU), Adewale Tomiwa said that although they did not meet up with their target of emerging the overall winners of the Games, they are holding their heads high with their third place finish.

University of Lagos, co- host of the Games, garnered a total of 25 gold, 23 silver and 40 bronze to emerge third of the competition behind defending champions, American University Cairo Egypt and Lagos State University ( LASU)
He told newstap.com.ng shortly after the closing ceremony that they would have loved to dethrone the champion but was quick to add that coming third in a competition involving close to 70 Universities from across the continent is not an easy thing and as such all the UNILAG coaches and athletes deserves commendation.

” At the beginning of the competition we, knew it was not going to be easy considering the number of athletes that will be coming from all over the continent and as such, we prepared very well in order to ensure we emerged the overall winners.

” We were almost getting there, when the Egyptians swept all the medals in swimming which gave them advantage over other competitors.

On his general assessment of the Games, Tomiwa, a judoka described it as excellent and commended management of the two Universities for organising a seamless Games.

He was also particularly happy with the management of University Lagos ably led by the Vice Chancellor Prof.
Folasade Ogunsola for creating a platform for the athletes to excel.

” I must commend the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola and her management team for the turn around witnessed in all the sporting facilities at UNILAG prior to the commencement of the Games and we shall be ever grateful to her”, he stated

He however appealed that Nigerian Universities who want to be part of the next edition to be hosted by American University Cairo Egypt should start early preparation for the Games
” My appeal is that Universities in Nigeria that want to be part of the 12th edition should start early preparation for the Games.
“I’m saying this because from my interaction with some of the Egyptian athletes, they revealed to me that they started preparations for the Games two years ago and that accounted for the number of medals they won”, he concluded.