By O.V.Collins
In a highly anticipated football match between the departments of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Benin during the Life Sciences Dean’s Cup Games, a devastating incident occurred, leaving one of the players, Igwoba Samuel, also known as ‘Thanos,’ with a broken leg. The unfortunate incident took place at the Astro Turf (Synthetic field) in the UNIBEN Sports Complex on Monday, 17th July 2023, following heavy rainfall which left the field extremely slippery.
The match was scheduled to kick off at 4pm on Monday and commenced right after the downpour reduced. However, the wet conditions posed a significant challenge for the players, leading to a series of slips and falls while the game lasted.
Witnesses present during the match were left in shock as Thanos, a prominent player for the department of Microbiology, fell while attempting to defend against an attack from the department of Biochemistry. In the course of his fall, there was a tussle for the ball and collision with him, causing a severe injury.
The impact of the clash resulted in a fractured bone around the area where Thanos’ shin guard was worn. An opposing player from the department of Biochemistry stated that he heard the unsettling sound of something cracking as he narrowly avoided being caught in the collision.
As the arena erupted into chaos following Thanos’ groans of pain, spectators rushed onto the field to offer assistance. The Life Sciences Director of Sports, Comrade Osasogie Courage, along with fellow football players and spectators, acted swiftly to stabilise the injured player and promptly transported him to the hospital.
Due to the tragic nature of the incident, the players of Microbiology decided to quit playing the match and asked for it to be rescheduled, reasons being that they were not in the right state of mind to continue the football match. The game was then cancelled at the scoreline 0:0, as spectators dispersed.
As at press time, the department of Microbiology and concerned students are seeking financial assistance to cover Thanos’ medical expenses as he undergoes treatment. While he is reported to be in a stable condition at the time of this report, further medical attention and an X-ray examination are pending to assess the full extent of his injuries.