By Adekunle-Oni Daniel
Al-Ameen, the Sports Commissioner of the Great Independence Hall of Residence, University of Ibadan, and a student of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, in his social contract with Katanga Republic, made several promises, highlighting inclusivity, improvement, and sportsmanship.
In the his words, he pledged,“I will expand sports opportunities, ensuring inclusiveness and diverse activities for all. I’ll champion facility improvements and equipment acquisition for optimal training. Engaging events, from tournaments to friendly matches, will build camaraderie. Promoting team spirit and sportsmanship will be a core focus. Open communication will ensure transparency and responsiveness to your needs.”
Al-Ameen’s first plan focused on bonding the sports community of the hall by creating a WhatsApp community where different sports groups would converge.
To the credit of the Sports Commissioner, he, as observed by IndyPress, created the WhatsApp Katanga Sports Community with active participation from various sports groups.
However, Al-Ameen admitted that he faced challenges gathering sportsmen in the hall for other sports aside from football.He said, “I won’t really lie to you, the turnout of Katangites to other sports apart from football is actually very low. But I was able to gather members for each sports group on WhatsApp as promised.”
In his manifesto, Mr. Al-Ameen also promised a published banner and PDF outlining the rules and regulations of the San Siro football pitch to reduce unnecessary or unprofessional altercations on the field. However, IndyPress observed that he could not deliver on this plan as timely as he should. In his defense, he explained that the rules were delayed due to the San Siro renovation, claiming he did not know what the structure of the field would look like afterward. After the renovation, however, a banner detailing the rules and regulations of the newly renovated San Siro stadium was provided.
Another key plan in Al-Ameen’s manifesto was the Keep Fit Katangites initiative, aimed at maintaining the fitness of the hall sportsmen. The manifesto stated that the program would include jogging, stretching, and other activities every Saturday before the Saturday set with a monthly training session. Contrary to reality, there have only been two monthly sessions held throughout this session, one for handball and the other for Gala Cup in the first semester.
Mr. Al-Ameen attributed the failure of this plan to the lengthy closure of the San Siro football pitch for renovation, stating, “We could not carry out a lot of things due to the renovation of the Maracana.” He further noted that although the monthly sessions did not hold as planned, some training sessions still took place.
His manifesto also promised that the Independence Hall would witness a Sports Day, scheduled to hold during the hall week. When asked for updates, Mr. Al-Ameen confirmed there are ongoing plans for the event. “Yes, plans are still going on for Sports Day,” he told IndyPress.
His further covers the recognition of the Katanga Chess Club and the hosting of a mobile games tournament. While the chess club had been active even long before his tenure, the mobile games tournament is still in development. “We are still gathering people for the mobile game. It will be done in the JCR here,” he explained.
One of his manifesto promises was to create a WhatsApp tracking group for floor representatives to report on the welfare of sportsmen on each floor. However, this plan was abandoned as it, according to the Sports Commissioner, proved difficult to bring all floor representatives together. He said, “This has not been done. it was even hard to bring the floor reps to come together.”
Nonetheless, he argued that updates still reached him through other sportsmen. “When some sportsmen are sick, some people usually reach out to me, and then I do the checkup.”
Through the lens of His Constitutional Duties
The responsibilities of the Sports Commissioner, in the Article VI, Section IX of Indy Hall Constitution, are clearly outlined.
According to the Constitution, the Sports Commissioner is expected to ensure availability of sporting equipment in the hall. When asked about the delivery of this constitutional role, he said, “We have the ball pump, the Jerseys, ball, whistle and officiating cards. They are in good condition.”
Additionally, he is, according to the hall constitution, meant to be the Chairman of the Supporters Club. Commenting on the duty, he explained that although he held the role, the Social and Buttery Commissioner often mobilized supporters during the interhall freshers’ competition because he (Al-Ameen) served as the team coach and was preoccupied on the field. He added that during the UI’SU Gala Cup, he called on the House Secretary to gather supporters.
Regarding teamwork within the hall’s Executive Council, Al-Ameen described his experience positively, saying, “The other executives were always ready to cover up for other duties for one another.”
In sum, Al-Ameen’s tenure as the Sports Commissioner of the hall reflects commendable intentions but inconsistent delivery. While he delivered on some structural plans, many initiatives lagged or stalled, often with explanations that reveal gaps in planning rather than mere circumstance. His performance shows effort, but the unfulfilled promises expose notable shortcomings in delivery.
Hence, the Sports Commissioner must prioritize delivering on his plans that are yet to be brought to light to fulfill all righteousness in his social contract deal with the Katanga Republic.
