Have you ever heard of Ronaldinho, a Brazilian former professional footballer and ambassador for Barcelona, who quoted “I learnt all about life with a ball at my feet”? If you are one of the keen candidates in soccer, I am sure you must have grasped this quotation with the heart of an entire universe.  In fact, as the saying by John Cruyff goes “Football is a game of mistakes. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins”. With this instance, it’s worthwhile to know what sports mean to sports’ lovers. We, UCASers carry a plethora of motivation, passion and dedication towards sports. Well, education is incomplete without sports. With that culture of our campus, we put on the football kits, and sweat hard on the ground for the fame of our university, as well as to endorse ourselves with the love for soccer. In fact, it’s more astounding when it comes to a friendly match between the teams from two different universities with people from nook and corner of the globe. It’s full of learning, not just about how to perform on the ground, but also about how to perform in life.     

On Saturday, 16^th March, 2019, the football team of the International College of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (IC-UCAS) played against the football team of the University of Science and Technology Beijing. The friendly match took place at the premise of USTB.

The UCAS football team did not just go as a team, they went as a family, with other supporters and officials of the “International College “who accompanied them to extend their support and to add the extra charm to the event. During a pre-match interview, the interim coach of the team, Ivan Opara, expressed his optimism about the match. Obed Amissah, one of the players in the team, also stated that he was expecting positive outcomes from the friendly match.

~The players having a pre-match warm up

The match was started at 10:00 AM and it was a show-time for the energetic and passionate players. IC-UCAS team started playing with great vigor as they were being cheered on by fans from the international student community who were standing by the sidelines.

Although the football match was played away from home at the opponent team’s home ground, the IC-UCAS team showed a great deal of confidence and teamwork right from the very first minute to the first half of the match. By the end of the first half of the match, the team was down by one goal. The first half was very tough but the team members of IC-UCAS did not lose their enthusiasm and hope. As the saying goes, “Hope is a good thing and it never dies”. With a hope to come even stronger, IC-UCAS team tighten themselves to thrive up to mark and stand strong in the second half of the game.

~Ritu Raj (IC-UCAS) in action

The team used the half-time break as an opportunity to re-strategize and to make some substitutions. By the time the second half of the game started, the IC-UCAS team showed a great display of sportsmanship, earning themselves two sensational goals by Dickson Mbigi and Raji Ibrahim, which made them come right on top. The IC-UCAS team played with a lot of enthusiasm and passion for most part of the second half but they eventually conceded another goal and the score line was leveled at 2-2.

The intensity of the match grew after some time and at the 69th minute, the IC-UCAS team conceded a penalty. The USTB football team used that opportunity to earn themselves another goal which made them come right on top. Well, it was a thrilling and heated atmosphere both inside fence and the supporters of IC-UCAS team went soundless after that goal. It’s obvious, because nobody wants to loose, and we all seek for win. This is because we attach a lot of emotional attachment to the team representing us, and a winning cause brings an increase in height of the fame level. However, we have to understand that without a defeat, win is not possible. It’s similar to every dawn falls after a dark night.

On the pitch, you could see hope, passion, teamwork, sweat and good sportsmanship. Not so long, the IC-UCAS team earned a penalty kick when a mid-fielder, Obed Amissah was brought down in the 18-yard box, which could have made the score level but the penalty taker, Victor Charles, was denied a happy ending as the ball missed by just a few inches.

The goal keeper, Cedric, showed a great deal of sportsmanship on several occasions as he saved many shots that would have resulted in a goal. Several other brilliant goal attempts were made by the team on different occasions but at the end of the day, the match ended with a score of 3-2. The score line does not tell the whole story. It’s not just about winning, it’s about trying to give your 100% and show an ideal sportsmanship.

The match was not all about goals, it was much more. We saw passion, we saw a positive fighting spirit and we saw a team with an unshakable determination. Even when the match was over, though the IC-UCAS team members were not too happy with the score, but they were not discouraged either. We live to fight another day.

During an interview with Dayo Oladipo, a member of the IC-UCAS journalists team, Didi, the captain of the USTB football team, said that IC-UCAS had a very strong team and gave them a very tough time on the pitch. The captain of the IC-UCAS football team, Raji Ibrajim, also expressed his opinion about the match, noting that he was quite satisfied because the game was fair and no one sustained serious injuries, and he expressed the fact that every member of the team played their part very well.

The match was indeed a memorable one due to the support of the Ms. TAN Yudong from the International College of UCAS, the ever-supportive fans, and due to the teamwork of these great players.

Here is the list of IC-UCAS football team players.

1. Ibrahim Oladayo Raji (Team captain)

2. Bakhat Rawat                         

3. Birendra Prasad Sharma

4. Alois Wambua Mweu

5. Gratien Nsabimana

6. Ritu Raj Timsina

7. Victor Charles

8. Ambata Dancun

9.Tite Ntacyabukura

10. Alex Plimo Karuno

11. Ivan Chinonso Opara (Coach)

12. Dickson Mbigi

13. Obed Boadi Amissah

14. Cedric Karel Fonzeu Monguen (Goal keeper)

15. Shyam Krishna Karki

16. Sanjeep Sapkota

17. Joshua Sese

18. Kiprotich Paul

19. Patrick Ndayambaje

20. Alexis kayiranga

21. Wasihun

It was a great game. They tried their best. They made their presence felt. They hoped for a better result, but in the end, they were not disappointed because one thing is sure; their opponents would never forget that they were there.

“Winning is not everything, it’s the only thing”. –Vince Lombardi

Written by: Dayo Oladipo and Viktoriya Ilina

Photo credits: Xu Guangyuan

Editor: Pralhad Gupta