The Ashanti Regional Private Universities Alliance (ARPUA) has staged the maiden edition of universities’ games at the Christian Service University College in Kumasi.

The two-day event, from February 24–25, had players and athletes displaying their talents in a multi-sports event.

Five private universities, namely the Christian Service University College, Ghana Baptist University College, Garden City University College, Kessben University College and Wisconsin University College came together to organize the first private universities’ games in the Ashanti region.

Students of these schools competed in sporting disciplines such as volleyball, badminton, basketball and football for honours.

The football competition took place at the OWASS Park on Friday where Kessben University College emerged winners in the final after winning by 4-3 on penalties against Ghana Baptist University College.

The games attracted some important sports personalities, including Ghana football legend Malik Jabir.

The 1971 CAF Champions League winner featured as coach of Christian Service University College. But his side was kicked out from the first round after failing to win any of their two games.

Malik Jabir explained the private universities’ games could be an avenue to scout talents for national teams and called for its sustenance.

“Universities games are very important; they can even produce players for Ghana youth teams and even the national teams.

“This is where we all started from. I was in Adisco, through Adisco, I played for Academicals and then national team and beyond. We used to have University students in our time so it’s a good thing.” Malik Jabir said.

SRC Presidents of the various schools expressed delight after successfully organizing the maiden universities games but they want corporate bodies to support them in the next edition.

"We wish that going forward, we will get more sponsors because looking at the program, it has brought a lot of these students together,” SRC President of Kessben University College, Prince Blankson said.

‘’Without sponsors, we struggle a lot because there are things we wanted to do but we couldn’t so in future, we want cooperate bodies to come and support us.’’ SRC President of Ghana Baptist University College Sports Minister, Moses Kombert Gali said.

SRC President of Christian Service University College, Emmanuel Amegavi Sosu, who served as the lead convenor for the games, wants the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) to adopt the private schools in its annual sports programs.

‘’Yes, we would like it (to be part of GUSA).

‘’Private universities, we have been advocating to be part of GUSA for a very long time and so if at the end of the day, they see the relevance in our quest to join them, we are ready to join them.’’ He said.

LIST OF WINNERS AT ARPUAG GAMES
Football

• Kessben 1st( Trophy)
• Ghana Baptist 2nd ( Trophy)

Basketball

• CSUC 1st (Trophy)
• Garden City 2nd ( Trophy)

Volleyball (Male)

• Wisconsin 1st (Trophy)
• CSUC 2nd (Trophy)

Volleyball (Female)

• Kessben 1st (Trophy)
• CSUC 2nd ( Trophy)

Table Tennis

• CSUC 1st ( Gold Medal)
• Wisconsin 2nd ( Silver Medal)

Snooker

• CSUC 1st ( Gold Medal)
• Garden City 2nd ( Silver Medal)

Draft (Dame)

• Kessben 1st ( Gold Medal)
• CSUC 2nd ( Silver Medal)

Oware (Female)

• CSUC 1st ( Gold Medal)
• Wisconsin 2nd ( Silver Medal).