Mini GUSA: UEW Finishes 3rd with 46 Medals and Football Title
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) delivered an impressive performance at the 9th Mini Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) Games hosted by the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). UEW secured a total of 46 medals, emerged as champions in the men’s football competition and finished third overall at the end of the tournament.
Team UEW obtained 13 gold, 20 silver and 13 bronze medals across various sporting disciplines, including football, athletics, basketball, badminton, volleyball and table tennis. The University of Cape Coast (UCC) emerged as the overall champion, while Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) placed second. The competition brought together 14 public universities from across Ghana.
One of the major highlights of the Games was UEW’s triumph in the men’s football competition. The team displayed resilience and consistency throughout the tournament, advancing through the group and knockout stages before defeating UCC 1-0 in the grand finale to lift the trophy. The victory marked a significant milestone for the University, its first football title in any GUSA competition since 2018.
UEW also excelled in athletics, securing medals in several track and field events. The men’s athletics team emerged as champions in their category. The women’s basketball team equally delivered a strong performance to win gold. The badminton team also contributed significantly to the University’s medal haul with commendable performances throughout the Games.
Dr. Theophilus Kwesi Mensah, the Director of Sports and the Chairman of the UEW Directorate of Amalgamated Clubs and Sports, commended the athletes, coaches, technical team and management for their collective effort and dedication throughout the competition. He acknowledged the discipline, resilience and determination displayed by Team UEW across various sporting disciplines and described the university's overall performance as impressive and encouraging.
Dr. Mensah also expressed optimism about the future of sports development at UEW, especially in anticipation of the 2027 main GUSA Games, which the university is expected to host. He further emphasised the importance of continuous investment in sports development, thorough preparation and strong institutional support to sustain the university’s growing success in university sports competitions.
Mr. Nurudeen Ahmed, the Head Coach of UEW, expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of the athletes, describing the Mini GUSA Games as an important platform to assess the readiness of the various teams ahead of the main GUSA Games scheduled for 2027. He commended the performances of the football, athletics and basketball teams while acknowledging the need for further improvement in some sporting disciplines.
Mr. Ahmed also identified inadequate sporting facilities, particularly the absence of a standard athletics track, as a major challenge affecting preparations. He praised the athletes for remaining focused despite logistical and accommodation difficulties encountered during the competition.
The UEW Student Representative Council (SRC) Sports and Games Secretariat, led by Mr. Kingsley Wisdom Baffoe, the Sports and Games Secretary, commended the athletes, technical team and management for their commitment, discipline and teamwork throughout the Games. He noted that intensive preparations including tactical training, physical conditioning and team-building exercises, contributed significantly to the University’s success.
He further described the football triumph as a historic achievement and expressed confidence in Team UEW’s preparedness ahead of the 2027 main GUSA Games to be hosted by UEW. According to him, the tournament also provided valuable exposure for first-year student-athletes participating in a major university sporting competition.
At the closing ceremony, Mr. Shaibu Tanko, the President of GUSA, commended participating universities for demonstrating discipline, friendship and excellent sportsmanship throughout the competition. He also praised UPSA for successfully hosting the Games and providing the necessary support and hospitality to participating institutions.
UEW’s performance at the 9th Mini GUSA Games reflects the University’s continued commitment to sports development and competitive excellence. With preparations already underway towards hosting the main GUSA Games in 2027, the University’s strong showing at the Mini GUSA Games provides renewed confidence and momentum ahead of the upcoming competition.
