Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. That’s exactly how National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) contestants from Kaneshie-based school, Accra Academy are feeling.

After enjoying enormous support from their old students, they say they are now under pressure to win the NSMQ trophy for the first time in 29 years.

Musician Dennis Nana Dwamena aka Kidi is among a list of old students who made donations to the NSMQ team to help them prepare for this year’s competition.

JoyNews’ Emmanuel Bright Quaicoe interacted with the contestants after they arrived at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Wednesday, October 12, together with other seeded schools ahead of the start of the one-eighth round of competition scheduled to start from Saturday.

“This year we are working very hard to make sure that we can bring the trophy back to Accra Academy. The old boys have invested a lot and we hope that by God’s grace we’d take the trophy. There’s a lot of pressure from our colleagues, our teachers, and the old boys.

“They’re looking onto us for that batch that will lift the trophy and bring it to the school. We trust God that we would be that batch to bring the trophy to our school. It [the pressure] just gives us the feeling that we have more to do,” they said.

For a school known across the world for its exploits in business and other success stories in national debate competitions, as well as sports and entertainment, the NSMQ trophy has always been a fortress that has eluded the Bleoo fraternity.

It's the last day of the #NSMQPrelims and we have nine thrilling contests for you.

All contests will be streamed live on Facebook and Youtube.#NSMQ2022 #Primetime pic.twitter.com/u29fsm0Mvd

— NSMQ Ghana (@NSMQGhana) October 13, 2022

While there has been a marked improvement in recent performances which has seen the school being seeded year-in-year-out, and making semi-final appearances as well, the failure to win the trophy remains a blot on the rich academic credentials of the school.

Right from the headmaster, teachers, through to the Accra Academy Old Boys Association (AAOBA), to the current students, there is a collective effort to change the NSMQ story and restore the Bleoo fraternity to its pride of place.

Meanwhile, two-time winners of the competition Mfantsipim School will be fighting for a place at the one-eighth stage later today.

The Kwabotwe boys will face competition from West Africa SHS and Sandema SHS.

Some members of the Mfantsipim old Boys Association say this is their year.

“We are reclaiming our heritage, what is rightfully ours, we need to reinstate our supremacy for people to get to understand and appreciate that we are Mfantsipim and it is the only school in Ghana; forget about the others.”