By Yemi Sodeeq
Ogungbenro Mustapha Segun has been part of the Unilorin School team to the last two editions of High Institution Football league (HiFL), in this interview with Yemi Sodeeq, he revealed how the league has helped his career, walked us through the experiences and express the readiness of the team to clinch the coveted trophy in the yet to hold 2020 edition.
Though he had no pronounced impact in the 2018 edition, the 400 level Mathematics Education student of the better by far University was able to garner some credit for himself in the 2019 with two Man of the Match Award, Bronze medal, and also Elite XI Award, Ogungbenro became the face of the competition in the University community.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself?
“My name is Ogungbenro Mustapha Segun. Nick name is Zico Jr, a 400 level Student of University of Ilorin Studying Mathematics Education.
What does HiFL mean to you as a student who have played the two previous edition?
HiFL means a lot to me because I have never seen a University league like this before and I’m happy we started it together from 2018 till date.
I see it as a huge experience for the University’s student to promote and enhance their career and I can see that HiFL board committee really have better plans for the University Student.
HiFL to me, has really helped my career and it has given me the opportunity to showcase my talent.
The school missed out on two occasions to get to the final, what can you say was responsible for this set back?
The first year we started HiFL, we reached semi-final and we lost the third place at Agege stadium that year.
We didn’t really have any problem because all the players are doing well but we were robbed in our Semifinal 2nd leg at the University of Calabar stadium by 2-0 after we defeated them here 1-0 at Unilorin Main Bowl Stadium.
I believe if this didn’t happen we would have gone into final and fight for the trophy.
HiFL 2019; we fought back in the competition though we couldn’t have gone far to third place because we were defeated by Uniben Royals in the quarterfinals with aggregate but Uniben had problem with HiFL board committee and we were call back to go and play Unical Malabites in the semifinal which is an ordinary leg encounter . The match was played in Port Harcourt in a neutral ground.
We lost 2-0 but the match was somehow because rain started from the beginning of the game to end and we can’t afford that weather. We later defeated OAU giants in third place by penalty shootouts.
2019 should have been the year we are supposed to lift HiFL trophy because we have the best leg.
And now to this year edition , how best do you think things have to be done to at least get to the final and probably bring back the trophy home having learnt some lessons on two different occasions?
The Unilorin football team Manager have started training with us since November with the plans of bringing the HiFL 2020 to university campus may Allah help us through.
We have learnt different lessons in 2018 and 2019 which will not happen again, this is our time to be the champion and the players are working very hard to get it done.
Thank you very.
