By James Bakama

JOHN Akii-Bua was in the twilight of his career in 1980 but after his heroics at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the world believed he could still pull off a surprise in Moscow.

That Uganda had, due to an African boycott, missed the 1976 games in Montreal, made the world even eager to again see the 400m hurdler in action.

But the show down between Akii-Bua and Montreal champion Edwin Moses however couldn’t take place because of a US boycott following Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.

Akii-Bua made it to the semi-finals only to finish seventh.

But his times of 50.87 and 51.1 were in sharp contrast to the 47.82 world record he set in Munich.

Another Ugandan Justin Arop threw 82.6 meters to storm the final. But his 77.34m effort on the last day had him finishing 12th.

Silver Ayoo, Charles Dramiga and Pius Olowo couldn’t make it to the final of both the 400m and 4x 400m relays. Fidelis Ndyabagye finished 15 overall in the long jump.

Boxers J. Siryakibbe (bantam), George Kabuto (l/middle) and Peter Odhiambo were quarter finalists.But Charles Lubulwa (l/flyweight), Godfrey Nyeko (l/weight) and John Munduga (l/welter) lost in earlier rounds.