ON YOUR MARKS: Johnson set for a sprint race with youngsters at Nakulabye

By James Bakama
and Norman Katende

UGANDAN sprinters are set to benefit from Michael Johnson’s visit. After a chat with former 400m rival Davis Kamoga, Johnson, who was in the country yesterday on humanitarian work courtesy of Laureus Sports for Good Foundation, promised to help facilitate sprinters.

“He asked me whether I have left a sprinting legacy and when I told him ‘no’, he was moved,” Kamoga said yesterday.

“I told him that the athletes did not need allowances but facilitation in form of materials and transport,” explained Kamoga.

Johnson said that they have always been friends with Kamoga on and off the track, and they hugged soon after the five-time gold medal winner arrived in Kampala.

Kamoga won the 1996 400m Olympic bronze and 1997 World Championship silver. Johnson won both races.

“I feel good to meet him. This is something I have been looking forward to,” Johnson said. He called for more government involvement in sports.

“You need an opportunity. If you do not have a coach, facilities and government support, then you will never develop in sports,” said Johnson.

He was moved by the story of the Community Based AIDS Programme (COBAP), but was happy to note that sports as a tool of change had brought down the rate of HIV infection within the community.

“You have proved that sports can be used as a tool for social change. It has reached a lot of younger people and changed their lifestyle. It has helped many plan and value their lives.

Johnson later visited the COBAP headquarters, took part in the run at Makerere before watching village boxing in Nakulabye. He returned to the US yesterday evening.