It was a blue lit paper, shades of blue all over the serene environment of the University of Ghana’s (UG) 11,000 seater Stadium when dusk fell as Mensah Sarbah hall (one of the most revered halls in the renowned institution), were crowned the overall winners of the UG inter-hall athletics meet on Friday, June 21, 2024.
The three day meet, which commenced on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, offered students the opportunity to represent their respective halls, make a name for themselves, and leave a lasting impression on spectators.
However, as the inefficiency and inadequacies of the other participating halls proved to be all over the place, Mensah Sarbah’s athletes seemed to have grasped the concept much better, seizing upon the moment and sweeping home the top laurels in the 15-hall meet.
By the time UG’s acting Director of Sports, Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, signaled the end of the meet, there were broad smiles on the faces of the ‘Vikings’ – as they are known in the four walls of the university.
And not even the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo (an alumnus of the hall), could hide her unbridled joy as she watched on. Like a proud mother, she was overwhelmed with emotions and elation as Sarbah achieved a monumental feat.
The expulsion of the Vikings from the competition (due to the brawl that ensued between themselves and fierce rivals Commonwealth in 2022), left residents of the hall highly strung prior to the meet, as fans watched on from the onset in trepidation, rather than a cozy mood as Sarbah made their return following a two year hiatus.
However, the 500 supporters that turned up – with Sarbah’s support consisting a vast majority – found their voices in a deserted stadium. Cheers and jeers from one end of the stadium reverberated at the other, showcasing how desolate the stadium was — almost graveyard manner to some extent.
Sarbah would care less, as they got about their business with verve and purpose, snagging 20 medals, presenting it before the famous John Mensah Sarbah sculpture in front of their hall upon their return.
Their fierce rivals, Commonwealth Hall, who mustered level 100 athletes for the meet, settled for a second placed finish with a total of 27 medals, losing out to Sarbah on gold counts.
Commonwealth, for all their fight and vociferous support throughout the three day meet, will feel undone by Sarbah. More so, with Sarbah leaving out their male team and going full-throttle with women, who turned out to be unfazed by the pressure and weight of expectations — they delivered !
For Commonwealth Hall, however, their 27 medal haul was in tandem with their female hall, Volta, making the loss to Sarbah a much bitter pill to swallow.
Akuafo Hall came third with a total of 22 medals, adding extra intrigue to a spicy two-horse race, leaving Jean Neslon (the brightest spark amongst the diaspora halls) to take fourth position with 6 medals.
Elizabeth Frances Sey – keeping close tabs to Nelson as their architectural proximity is – finished with 5 medals in fifth place. Jubilee and Ish (JISH) walked to their matrimonial home with two medals, despite their bravery showcased in their peculiar marriage – ‘JISH’.
Legon hall, bearing the Universities moniker due to its vicinity, made seventh place their own with 4 medals, making enough room for Bani hostel – whose geographical location puts them all but out of the school, just as their final position – to cling onto 8th place with 2 medals.
Kwapong hall were burdened to have been placed at the bottom of the pile, coming 8th with just a single medal to show for their seemingly ‘non-existent’ efforts.
The next inter-hall athletics meet is scheduled to come off in 2025, with all halls – Mensah Sarbah, Commonwealth, Volta, Akuafo, Legon, Jubilee, International Students, Jean Nelson, Elizabeth Sey, Kwapong, Limann, Evandy, Bani, Topp Neslon Yankah, and African Union hall – expected to feature.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo| univers. ug.edu.gh
