By Fiyinfoluwa Matthew
An interview with Mr Taiwo Olamidipupo also known as Holarnmhee
Host: Good day sir, can we get to know you?
Holarnmhee: My name is Taiwo Olamidipupo Abdul Rofiu(Taiwo being my last name)
I’m currently in the 200 level, Department of Political Science, Faculty of the Social Sciences.
Host: What organisation do you belong to or what are the activities you participate in as a student?
Holarnmhee: I’m currently not in any organization, but I’m currently a member of the sports committee for independence hall. Asides academics, I represent my level, Department, Faculty and hall in sporting activities, especially football. Other sports I partake in include chess
Host: So you are a footballer?
Holarnmhee: Yes ma’am, I have played football all my life and I still do. I am a goalkeeper, but I sometimes play other positions, such as striker and winger
Host: Have you participated in any competitions on campus or outside the school?
Holarnmhee: Yes I have participated in a host of competitions, I played for the under-17s in my local government back at home in a competition we came second, played a couple of solidarity matches for the new school against the old school and also in my local community. In addition, I was the goalkeeper for my secondary school from Jss3 till I graduated. I also participated in the inter-faculties competition that was held while I was at 100 level, representing the faculty in a competition which we won, I was also the goalkeeper for the department in the just concluded Dean’sCup, a competition we haven’t won in the last 7 years, and we were victorious. I have also represented independence hall in a couple of matches.
Host: What are the challenges you have faced so far in trying to balance training and academics?
Holarnmhee: Well, it’s been tough… I can’t even dispute that fact. But when you have passion for something, you’ll always find a way. I’ve never been the one to read every time, but once it’s time to actually sit and read, I read. I think in a way I’m grateful for one very key thing, which is my very good and fast assimilation, I quickly grasp the key concepts in whatever I am trying to read and then I’m able to put them in my own words, which so far has worked for me.
Host: That’s great. How do you cope with pressure, especially during a penalty shootout
Holarnmhee: Funny enough, I’ve never liked to be under pressure, in anything else I do, I’ve never done well under pressure, but when it comes to football and I’m in goal, it’s a different ball game, literally lol. I love to feel pressure because I do mostly well when the stakes are high. I remember the interfaculty penalty shootout, we had lost two penalties and they only needed to score the last one to win the competition, I told myself I was going to save it, and I did. When I’m in goal, I’m a different beast, it all comes from past experiences and learning from them to prepare oneself better for the events that are yet to happen. Like Mikel Arteta will say, “Pressure is part and parcel of the game, if you can’t work with pressure either as a player or even a manager, then you have no business being an athlete” not just in football, in every sport you do, there’s always pressure and you need to find a way to use it to your advantage
Host: As an aspiring sports director what are the things you intend to put in place or achieve?
Holarnmhee: Firstly, there’s only one thing I want to improve, which is the inclusivity of all FATSSSITES. I want a fatsssa that is rebranded as a sports-loving and sports-thriving faculty, And I won’t be able to do this alone, it will be with the help of everyone in the faculty. We are the Social Sciences, and we should thrive when it comes to anything and everything, including sports. So I believe we can achieve this if we all come together. Secondly, I want a fit fatsssa, there will be programs in place to have a sort of exercise daily which all FATSSSITES will be implored to come and together we will have a couple of exercises and also thereby increasing the synergy between all FATSSSITES, whether 100 level or 400 level, we will all get to know one another and that way foster a healthy relationship between all FATSSSITES. Also, a games day will be incorporated into the fatsssa timetable, it will be a day in each week where games like chess, scrabble, ludo, ayo and all sorts will be made available and everyone can participate
Host: OK, Your advice to students who have decided not to engage in sports activities because of their studies?
Holarnmhee: Well, truly our first point of duty is to our academics, and rightly so, they have the right to focus on it. But a sound body fosters a sound mind, both work hand in hand when you’re active with sports, you engage your mind and keep it in an optimal condition at all times, so my advice would be for them to create time for sporting activities, it doesn’t have to be football or anything rigorous like that, it could be a game of chess with friends or even walking on cool evenings with a friend.
Host: Thanks for the insight. Thanks for responding to our invitation. Have a nice day.
