In a significant turn of events, the draws and groupings of participating institutions in the 2024 Osun Intercollegiate Games have been conducted with much zest and elation at the postgraduate hall of Fountain University, Osogbo, with almost all participating institutions represented at the draws. Also in attendance were Ace Sports and members of Osun Tertiary Institution Games Association(OSTIGA)
The draws and groupings event which was held on Monday, 4th November, 2024 and coordinated by the Technical Committee of the 2024 Osun Intercollegiate Games was conducted with a high degree of transparency and fairness, with all present applauding the conduct and enthronement of equity and objectivity that was brought to bear.
Two venues and zones of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Federal Polytechnic, Ede were adopted and institutions were grouped to have their preliminaries in either of these two venues accordingly.
In the football category(male and female) pockets of perennial rivalries will be rekindled while some dark horses come to the party itching to prove their mettle.
In male football Group A, it will be battle royale among Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun;
(FUHSI Fierce); Federal Polytechnic, Ede; Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and Fountain University, Osogbo
Group B has Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife (OAU Giants) up against Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu (OUI Spiders) and College of Health Technology, Moro (FLC Moro Strivers).
Osun State University, Osogbo (Uniosun Lakers) will lock horns with Adeleke University, Ede and Redeemers University, Ede in Group C. While Group D comprises Kings University, Ode-Omu (Gems); University of Ilesha,Ilesha (Golden Tigers) and Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke
The female football category has two groups of Ife Zone comprising, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU Giantess); University of Ilesha, Ilesha (Golden Tigress); Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu (OUI Angels) and College of Health Technology, Moro (OUI Akinosun Babes).
And Ede Zone which has Osun State University, Osogbo (UNIOSUN Lakers Queens); Federal Polytechnic, Ede and Redeemers University.
Draws for the other featured sports at the games are to emerge organically and by default appropriately.
At the well-attended event, it was reiterated that the best and highest sporting standards, practice and ethos shall be enthroned and that water-tight mechanisms shall be instituted to ensure that only genuine students of participating institutions represent their respective schools.
All representatives of participating institutions expressed their satisfaction at the process of the draws and groupings while pledges were made on collaborative efforts for a successful 2024 Osun Intercollegiate Games.
Professor W.F. Sule, Chairman of the accreditation committee, stated that measures have been taken to prevent the use of mercenaries during the competition.
Also the team lead of Ace Sports, the Organizers of the Osun Intercollegiate Games, Olayiwola Olafiranye, also noted that all grandstands and structures required for the success of the competition have been put in place to ensure a conducive sporting environment and warned institutions to do away with the use of mercenaries and also imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship all through the tournament.
The Osun Intercollegiate Games 2024 will commence on November 20, 2024, featuring six sports: Football, Athletics, Table Tennis, Badminton, Chess, Scrabble, and Tug of War.
