The University of Cape Coast (UCC) maintained its dominance at the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games as they put up a sterling performance to win their ninth GUSA title, from five main GUSA competitions and four won at mini GUSA campaigns, in the history of the competition.
UCC dominance
The UCC team won their first GUSA title in 2012 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and went on to win the mini GUSA title in 2013, 2014, 2015, and the main in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
This year, the UCC team emerged overall champions with a total of 64 medals consisting of 28 gold, 23 silver, and 13 bronze at the Games which ended last Saturday at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Presenting a total of 200 student-athletes for the various sporting disciplines, the UCC team overwhelmed their colleagues and officials from other universities as they claimed gold in the men’s football event, volleyball (women), badminton (men), goalball (men and women), hockey (men), volleyball (women) tennis (men) and beach volleyball (men and women).
he University of Education Winneba (UEW) finished second with 15 gold, 11 silver, and 17 bronze while the University of Development Studies came third with 13 gold, 11 silver, and 15 bronze medals.
Hosts University of Ghana finished fourth with 31 medals comprising one gold, 21 silver, and nine bronze, followed by KNUST with one gold medal, three silver, and three bronze while the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) were sixth with one bronze medal. Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), University of Mines and Technology (UMAT), the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) followed in that order with no medal at all.
UCC volleyball captain, Halim Mohammed Vomojo, who doubles as Students Representative Council General Secretary of Sports, in an interview noted that his side put in extra effort ahead of the Games just so that they could defend the title.
“Currently when people talk of GUSA Games the name that first comes to mind is UCC so we knew we had to defend this title at all cost to maintain that notion out there. It will surprise you to know that at UCC we train even during exams time and that is one thing that most universities won’t do,” said Halim.
“Our sacrifices have paid off so we are very happy but we will not relent on our efforts. We will keep working hard to stay at the top for a long time,” he added.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, president of the GUSA, Dr. Charles Domfeh urged other universities to work extra hard to end the dominance of UCC at the next edition which will be held at KNUST.
For his part, the Director of Sports at the University of Ghana and Co-Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Bella Bello Bitugu thanked the management of the University, the LOC and sponsors for their diverse contributions to ensure the success of the event. He urged the next organisers, KNUST to maintain the high standards set by UG this year.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion included Pro Vice-Chancellor of UG and Chairperson of the LOC, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfoh, MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Alhassan and representatives from the participating institutions and sponsors.