ULSU presents student-athletes – Coach Joshua

Faculty of Physical and Health Sciences Student Association (FPHSSA) Coach Daniel Joshua has praised the Lagos University Students Union (ULSU) to revive competitive sports, describing the tournament as a vital platform to discover and showcase student-athletes across the institution.

Speaking after his team’s 2-1 loss to MSA in the ULSU Super Cup knockout stage at the UNILAG Sports Centre, Joshua said the result was painful but insisted his players deserved credit for their fighting spirit despite limited preparation.

“Today’s game was fantastic. Both teams played very well. Unfortunately we lost and that is painful because the goals came from two errors by the goalkeeper.

“I am very proud of the performance of our players. They gave everything they had, but today was not our day,” he said.

Joshua revealed that his team had little time to prepare, as he assembled the team less than two weeks before the competition.

According to him, the players only trained twice and played only one friendly match before entering the tournament.

“As a faculty, this is the first time we have a collective team. We trained only twice and played only one friendly match, so I think we will be much better when we have enough time to prepare together,” he added.

Despite the defeat, the coach was optimistic about the future of the competition, urging the Students’ Union to support the initiative.

“I hope that these ULSU games will continue and that the Student Union will never dissolve again as it happened in the past. If this competition continues every year, we will have enough time to build a stronger team and I believe we can compete for the title.”

Joshua believes ULSU football competition goes beyond winning trophies and serves as an important avenue for student-athletes to gain recognition.

“The Student Union is a very good initiative because no institution should function without students having a collective voice. In sports, it identifies hidden talents in all departments and faculties and gives them the opportunity to compete.”

He noted that competitions like the ULSU Super Cup offer an alternative route for talented footballers who would otherwise go unnoticed.

“Today, the school coaches were there watching the games. They can identify players who may not have been on their radar before. Local scouts and club representatives can also discover these students. Not everyone will be successful through administrative jobs; sports can be another path to success.”

Joshua, a professional coach currently pursuing a second career, added that he has worked with several private football teams and believes that university competitions remain essential to developing the next generation of Nigerian football talent.

With the ULSU Super Cup gaining momentum, both coaches and players hope that the tournament will become a permanent fixture on the University of Lagos sporting calendar, creating more opportunities for student-athletes to compete, develop and pursue careers in sport.