UNIJOS Female Basketball team
Morale dipped in the University of Jos (UNIJOS) female basketball camp on Sunday morning as the team prepared to face Niger Delta University (NDU) in their opening group-stage game at the 27th Nigerian University Games (NUGA).
Tension arose after several players were excluded from the official accreditation list. One of the players told Campulse News that the decision had dampened the team’s spirit. “We trained so hard for this,” she said. “At first, they accredited only six of us, then later increased it to eight. Those who were not accredited are worried they may not even get paid.” Another player lamented the lack of proper kits. “The university did not provide us with jerseys. Look at players from other schools — see how properly they are dressed,” she said sadly.
It was also gathered that the entire UNIJOS contingent was still being owed training allowances ahead of the competition. In an interview, the team’s head coach, Kamsen Mordicai, admitted that the setback had affected the players but remained confident in their resolve to compete.
“We are going to play with just eight players instead of the usual fifteen,” Mordicai said. “But I have told the girls to play for themselves, not for the university. Even though the school will take the glory in the end, we are doing this to build ourselves.”
He added, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. We will take it one game at a time. There is no team in our group that we cannot beat. Once we qualify from this stage, we will strategise for the next.”
Despite the challenges, Mordicai believes the team can still push for a podium finish as they begin their campaign against NDU in the preliminary round.
Luck, however, seemed to smile on the UNIJOS side as their opponents, Niger Delta University, failed to show up for the fixture. A walkover was recorded in favour of the UNIJOS team, though the ceremonial tip-off was yet to be conducted as of the time of filing this report.
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