6th Gateway Tertiary Institutions Games (GATIG) Ends In Ijèbu Ode With Funfair
The 6th edition of the Gateway Tertiary Institutions Games (GATIG) ended with funfair during the closing ceremony held on Saturday, 29th of September, 2024 inside the main-bowl of Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
The high point of the closing event was the football final matches in both male and female categories which was played between the Olabisi Onabanjo University, (OOU) Ago-Iwoye and their counterparts from the Tai Solarin University of Education, (TASUED) Ijebu-Ode.
In the female final match between the two Universities, the ladies from TASUED defeated the OOU ladies by 5-4 in a penalties shootout after a goalless 90 minutes encounter. The OOU girls had themselves to blame at the end the match as they wasted so many scoring chances.
However, in the male category, the Deji Agboola Golden Boys from Ago-Iwoye side defeated their counterparts from the Tai Solarin University Education, (TASUED) by a lone goal scored by Eyitola Joshua in a tension soaked encounter from the blast of the whistle to the end of the match.
Also, the TASUED Boys failed to utilize the begging chances that came their way only to be denied by the brilliant performance of the OOU goalkeeper.
Among the dignitaries at the GATIG closing ceremony was the Commissioner for Sports Development in Ogun State, Hon. Wasiu Adeniran Isiaka, while speaking with the GATIG Council members at the Stadium maintained that best athletes at the competition would be invited to compete with the TEAM OGUN athletes to select those that will represent Ogun State at the forthcoming National Sports Festival (NSF) that will be hosted by the State next year.
Mr. Olalekan Kehinde Adeyemi, the GATIG Council Chairman in his own remarks during the closing event thanked Ogun State Government for sponsoring the game that has given the student athletes the opportunity to show case their talents.
According to GATIG Council Chairman “for the students, it was the time to leave the books and lace the boots, as
you can see that the students are really enjoying themselves after a rigorous academic session in their various campuses.”
Speaking further, Adeyemi who doubles as the Director of Sports Olabisi Onabanjo University added that the Council would work on few hitches noticed during the competition to organize a better GATIG next year.
“We know that the Government alone can not do it, and that is why we’ll reach out to cooperate bodies and philanthropists within and outside of Ogun State to sponsor GATIG at the next edition.”
