UNIVERSITY OF GHANA READY FOR 23RD GUSA GAMES

23^RD GUSA GAMES

The Ghana University Sport Association (GUSA) will be organizing its 23rd GUSA Games to be hosted by
the University of Cape Coast (UCC) under the theme “Harnessing talents for Ghana through University Sports” from 11th to 22nd June 2014. GUSA Games, since 1966, has always served as the platform for student athletes to exhibit their talents and proudly raise high the flags of their institutions. It is our hope that talents can be harnessed and maximized to their full potential and be able to represent both school and country in any competition.

INCLUSION OF NEW EVENTS

Notably in this year’s edition is the inclusion and introduction of Goalball (ball game for students with difficulty in seeing) and Netball.  With the addition of these 2 new events, 11 disciplines are competed in at GUSA Games: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Handball, Hockey, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball.

PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES

Participating Universities for this year’s GUSA games are:

University of Cape Coast (UCC), University of Ghana (UG), University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Development Studies (UDS), University of

Mines and Technology (UMaT) and University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

TOP GUSA CONTENDERS: UEW, UCC AND UG

The fiercest of athletics rivalries amongst various Universities will once more be showcased in all disciplines. In Athletics, the duel to watch will most probably be the 100m male race between Ibrahim Malik (UG) and Emmanuel Appiah Kubi (UCC). Adelaide Sagoe and Dzamesi Abigail both from the University of Ghana will also be challenging Asana Abubakari from the University of Cape Coast in 100m and 200m. Representing Ghana during the World University Games in Kazan (Russia, 2013), they formed the team which in July 2013, made it to the 4x100m women final and since then have been relentless on improving upon their individual performances.

In the ball games, the persistent rivalry between UG and UEW will be taken once more to the court. In Football, the host will be looking forward to a sweet revenge on UG following their dramatic loss to the latter in the finals of the 2013 Mini-GUSA Games at UDS, Tamale. Basketball and Volleyball will be mostly contended by UG, UCC, KNUST and UEW. 

DISPELLING THE “HOST AND WIN CLICHÉ”

Having placed 2nd at the 22nd GUSA Games held at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in January 2012, University of Ghana (UG) is eager to claim topnotch position in this year’s GUSA games. The University of Ghana has taken strides to motivate athletes and is therefore looking forward to crashing UCC’s dream of “host and win”. 

ATHLETES SELECTION

The University of Ghana in preparation towards this game selected various student athletes during the freshmen and inter-hall games (including the Basketball and Soccer Leagues) in the various GUSA disciplines in the first semester of the current academic year. Thus whiles school was in session, selected students were training actively towards the sole purpose of winning this year’s GUSA Games.

PREPARATION AND CAMPING

Selected students who have been training from the first semester, broke camp so as to enable them write their second semester exams. With exams set to end on Thursday, June 5^th, 2014, they will resume active training on Friday, June 6^th, 2014 until their departure on Tuesday, June 10^th, 2014. The Sports Directorate of the University of Ghana has also put measures in place to make sure that the students are provided with the necessary incentives (feeding, accommodation and many more) during their training period.

The Sports Directorate has also made available the necessary kits to be used for training and competition. In all, the University of Ghana contingent “Team Legon” will be looking forward to make UG dream once more of those glorious days when UG massively dominated the GUSA Games.