By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
It is trite that an admixture of sport and academics produces well-rounded students.
That was the case when Sacred Heart Group of Schools, Uwani, Enugu, South East Nigeria, held its inter-house sports competition.
At the end of gritty encounters, of the school’s six Houses, Green House emerged overall winners topping the medals table with 8 gold 3 silver.
The champions were trailed by Blue House and Orange House, respectively.
The participating six Houses were Red House, Green House, Yellow House, Blue House, Orange House, and White House.
Among dignatories at the event were the schools Founder, Bishop (Dr) Ernest Ogbodo;Parish priest of Sacred Heart parish, Uwani, Very Rev. (Dr) Msgr. Geoffrey Aguigwo; and Very Rev. Fr. (Dr) Benjamin Ezeh.
Speaking during the event, principal of the college, Mr. Austin Bayem, said that the 3rd biennial inter-house sports competition was an epoch-making event, stressing that “it’s part of our mandate of promoting extracurricular activities aimed at holistic development of the human person.”
Bayem noted that despite challenges being faced, the school was making progress as “visibly seen in the purchase of our Olympic-size table tennis, recruitment of professional games master/instructor, and winning laurels in other schools’ inter-house sports competitions.”
The principal listed some of the challenges facing the school to include the construction of classroom and administrative blocks and renovation of existing classrooms with tiles, windows, doors, and smart boards.
Others were procuring a school bus, acquiring a generator for steady power supply, equipping the library, building ultra-modern laboratories, landscaping the school compound to prevent flooding, and installing solar panels.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Administrator of the Sacred Heart Group of Schools, Rev. Fr. Stephen Egbo said that inter-house sports competition help to promote teamwork, foster healthy competition, and improve physical fitness.
Rev. Fr. Egbo added that the event was one of those where the entire community under the group of schools gathered together for a reunion and celebrated joyfully as a family.
The administrator commended the various house patrons/patronesses, parents/guardians of the students/pupils, as well as other invited guests for gracing the occasion, adding that he was overwhelmed by the large turnout.
The sports fiesta, which held at Ngwo Park, Enugu, featured track and field events, a march past and a football match where Orange House defeated White House 5-3 on penalty shootouts after a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, to lift the football winner’s cup.
Final Medals Table:
- Green House: 8 Gold, 3 Silver
- Blue House: 7 Gold, 4 Silver
- Orange House: 5 Gold, 4 Silver
- White House: 3 Gold, 5 Silver
- Red House: 2 Gold, I Silver
- Yellow House: 0 Gold, 10 Silver.
