As the University for Development Studies (UDS) football team prepares to step onto the pitch in Egypt to defend its African universities football crown, attention will naturally turn to the players, the goals they score, the saves they make and the moments of brilliance that could determine the University's fate.

But away from the spotlight, another team has been working relentlessly. They are the coaches, technical officials and medical personnel whose long hours, careful planning and attention to detail are helping to ensure that the UDS players enter the competition physically fit, tactically prepared, psychologically strong and medically ready for the demanding assignment ahead.

UDS is currently in Egypt to defend the African universities football title it won two years ago in Lagos, Nigeria. The stakes could hardly be higher. A successful title defence would see UDS become the first university in the history of the All Africa University Games to successfully defend the football championship.

For a university already occupying a special place in university football, that would be another historic achievement. UDS arrives at the continental competition as the reigning World Universities Football Champions, African Universities Football Champions and West African Universities Football Champions, an extraordinary collection of titles that has transformed the University into one of the most formidable names in university football.

Maintaining that reputation, however, requires considerably more than talent.

Ahead of the opening match, the preparation has gone beyond running drills and kicking footballs.

The Director of Sports, Mr. Shaibu Tanko Ibrahim, together with the Head of Coaches at UDS, Mr. Bruhan Abubakari, has been taking the players through pep talks and motivational sessions designed to prepare them psychologically for the challenge ahead.

The message has been clear: being defending champions comes with pressure.

Every opponent knows UDS. Every opponent understands the reputation the team carries. And every team that meets the champions will be motivated by the possibility of defeating them.

The psychological sessions have therefore focused on keeping the players confident without becoming complacent, reminding them of what it took to become champions while encouraging them to approach the tournament with discipline, concentration and respect for every opponent.

For the technical team, defending a championship requires not only strong legs but equally strong minds.

On the field, Head Coach Kojo Whyte has been leading the technical preparations, ably assisted by Coaches Mohammed Abubakar Mobashir and Yelewana Zineanta. Their task has been painstaking.

Training sessions have combined physical conditioning with tactical preparation as the technical team works to get every player into the best possible shape ahead of the first match.

Fitness drills have been complemented by on-field tactical sessions focusing on movement, positioning, ball retention, defensive organisation, attacking transitions and the overall systems the team is expected to deploy during the competition.

The coaches know that at this level, matches can be decided by the smallest details, a momentary loss of concentration, a poorly defended set piece or a perfectly timed run.

They have consequently been working to sharpen both the physical and tactical readiness of the squad.

There is another member of the team whose work may not attract the roar of spectators but could prove just as important. Dr. John Kase, the Team Doctor, has been keeping a watchful eye on the health and wellbeing of every player.

His responsibility extends beyond attending to medications, injuries and the general medical needs of the squad. He has also been paying close attention to what the players eat.

In an unfamiliar environment where changes in diet can potentially affect an athlete's health and performance, Dr. Kase has been keeping an eagle eye on the players' meals, ensuring that they consume food appropriate for high-performance athletes and avoid anything that could compromise their fitness or cause preventable health problems.

It is a seemingly small detail, but tournaments can be won and lost on such details. For a team carrying the hopes of an entire university and representing Ghana on the continental stage, nothing is being left to chance.

When the referee blows the whistle and the matches begin, the attention will inevitably shift to the men wearing the UDS colours on the field.

If a striker scores the winning goal, his name will be celebrated. If a goalkeeper produces a spectacular save, his heroics will be remembered. And if UDS succeeds in making history by becoming the first university to defend the African universities football title, the players will deservedly receive the applause. But football victories are rarely created by the eleven players spectators see on the pitch alone.

Behind every sprint is someone who helped build the fitness. Behind every tactical movement is a coach who rehearsed it repeatedly on the training ground. Behind the confidence of the players are people who prepared their minds. Behind their health and physical readiness is a medical professional quietly watching, checking and protecting them.

So, whenever UDS wins and the goalscorers take the headlines, it is worth remembering the names behind the scenes: Mr. Shaibu Tanko Ibrahim, Mr. Bruhan Abubakari, Coach Kojo Whyte, Coach Mohammed Abubakar Mobashir, Coach Yelewana Zineanta and Dr. John Kase.

They may not score the goals. They may not appear on the scoresheet. But behind the victories of the reigning World, African and West African Universities Football Champions are men whose work begins long before the first whistle, and often continues long after the cheering stops. They are the team behind the champions.

Story by Abdul Hayi Moomen 
UDS Media