Tamecia Shaheed ENTERPRISE II Advanced News Writing

By Tamecia Shaheed

Morehouse College students are keeping the game of soccer alive despite the multiple season bans at the school.

Even with the probationary period currently in place that no longer allows the schools soccer team to operate as a varsity sport, the students at Morehouse College play intramural soccer. Students who all share a common love of the game formed eight teams to compete with one another. The teams now meet in the schools gymnasium, and play their soccer games on the basketball court rather than a grass field.

The varsity soccer team was disbanded in 2003, after the school violated National

Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations by allowing three signed professionals to play on the team. Funding for the schools promising soccer team was

(MORE) 2-2-2 Tamecia Shaheed ENTERPRISE II Advanced News Writing cut. The school shifted funding from soccer, and created a baseball team.

However, the school is largely made up of African American and international students, and baseball has not yet gained the interest of the majority. Prince Bediako, a player for “The Gunners,” intramural soccer team said, “International students love soccer, we need a sport that pertains to us. We are working hard to show the school what we can do.”

Daniel Antwi, also a player for “The Gunners” said, “Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. And a school as diverse as Morehouse should encourage the sport.”

The students are hoping that by continuing to play soccer within the school officials will consider putting soccer back at the varsity level.

On Tuesday Oct. 31, the teams met for the championship game. After beating six other teams the “Gunners” defeated the “09 Warriors” by one point. The score was 4 - 3.

There were approximately 20 students in the audience. The students showed their support for all the players by cheering and clapping for both teams as they scored.

“The Gunners” Ousman Dukuly, Melvin Sirleaf, Daniel Antwi, Prince Bediako,

Tola Oso, Rogerio Caldas, Eric Adanu, and Tobi Abereoje, all received trophies and t- shirts for their win.

Some of the soccer players requested that there be an “All Star Game” between the

(MORE) 3-3-3 Tamecia Shaheed ENTERPRISE II Advanced News Writing players that had the most points this season and faculty members. On Tuesday Nov. 8, the faculty won the game 3 - 2. Augustine Konneh, chairman of the school's history department and the soccer program's founder and former varsity coach participated in the game. “This was the first game ever of its kind,” the intramural soccer team coordinator,

Perry A. Culverson, Jr. said.

Culverson is still unsure when the schools probationary period will be lifted. The athletics director Andre Pattillo said, “We're going to try to revamp the program when the opportunity is given to do so.” He feels that the probationary period gives the school a chance to correct past mistakes, and get everything in order. The students at Morehouse are hopeful that the program will be revamped sometime soon.

The intramural soccer game season began in August. Students interested in playing choose their own teams and team names. The teams this season included the 09

Warriors, International F.C., UN, Juggernauts, Clutch, F.C.U.K, The Gunners, and The

Rebirth. Games were held on Tuesday evenings, in the gymnasium at Morehouse College in Archer Hall. Admission to these games is free.

Student participants in the “All Stars Game” were Ousman Dukuly, Tume

Raseroka, Tola Oso, Jerren Holder, David Lewis, Jimmy Lawall, Sedeke Dukuly, and

(MORE) 4-4-4 Tamecia Shaheed ENTERPRISE II Advanced News Writing

Jabari Strozer. Faculty and Staff participants were Kasumu Sillah, a former student and campus public safety officer; Dr. Augustine Konneh, former varisty soccer coach at

Morehouse, professor and chair of the history department; Kenneth Williams, a resident director; Patrick Edwards, director of the Department of Student Development; Monique

Head, an education technology specialist; Reginald Thomas, Spelman College assistant soccer coach, and Philmore George, Spelman College head soccer coach.

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