It must be medals not<i> kyeyo</i>
Sep 21, 2008
WHAT was largely a chaotic week, ended on a promising note with news that the city of Leicester in the United Kingdom would support sports in Uganda. Leicester has not only offered to train Ugandan athletes for the 2012 London Olympics, but also plans to start a soccer academy in Uganda.
I SAY SO - By James BAkama
WHAT was largely a chaotic week, ended on a promising note with news that the city of Leicester in the United Kingdom would support sports in Uganda. Leicester has not only offered to train Ugandan athletes for the 2012 London Olympics, but also plans to start a soccer academy in Uganda.
After a disastrous show at the Beijing Olympics and an equally disappointing run on the soccer scene, the Leicester offer will certainly give Ugandans something to be hopeful about.
There can’t be a better offer particularly in terms of acclimatisation given that the next summer games will be staged in London.
For track and field, particularly the sprints, this will be an opportunity to freely access electronic timing that’s lacking in Uganda.
For our swimmers, it will be probably the first time that Ugandans regularly train in Olympic size pools before a major competition. But also don’t be surprised if you get those who will take the offer with a pinch of salt.
It’s not the first time that such sweet sounding promises have been made only for Ugandans to be disappointed.
You’ve certainly not forgotten businessman David Katumwa’s promise to jointly start a sports centre with international sports dealers Reebok.
But unlike the Katumwa joke, there are all signs this is a serious venture considering the figures involved.
The offer was made to President Yoweri Museveni by Manjul Sood, the Mayor of Leicester, a city with strong links to Uganda.
Many of the Asians expelled from Uganda in 1972 settled in Leicester and went on to become role models in a classic rugs-to-riches story. But even in prosperity, most of these Asians still view Uganda as their home thus the offer.
While we should commend these Asians, we should as Ugandans also prepare to make the best of the offer.
The sports ministry and the respective national associations should draw up a strategic plan.
What we need from the offer are medals not kyeyo seekers.
jbakama@newvision.co.ug
WHAT was largely a chaotic week, ended on a promising note with news that the city of Leicester in the United Kingdom would support sports in Uganda. Leicester has not only offered to train Ugandan athletes for the 2012 London Olympics, but also plans to start a soccer academy in Uganda.
After a disastrous show at the Beijing Olympics and an equally disappointing run on the soccer scene, the Leicester offer will certainly give Ugandans something to be hopeful about.
There can’t be a better offer particularly in terms of acclimatisation given that the next summer games will be staged in London.
For track and field, particularly the sprints, this will be an opportunity to freely access electronic timing that’s lacking in Uganda.
For our swimmers, it will be probably the first time that Ugandans regularly train in Olympic size pools before a major competition. But also don’t be surprised if you get those who will take the offer with a pinch of salt.
It’s not the first time that such sweet sounding promises have been made only for Ugandans to be disappointed.
You’ve certainly not forgotten businessman David Katumwa’s promise to jointly start a sports centre with international sports dealers Reebok.
But unlike the Katumwa joke, there are all signs this is a serious venture considering the figures involved.
The offer was made to President Yoweri Museveni by Manjul Sood, the Mayor of Leicester, a city with strong links to Uganda.
Many of the Asians expelled from Uganda in 1972 settled in Leicester and went on to become role models in a classic rugs-to-riches story. But even in prosperity, most of these Asians still view Uganda as their home thus the offer.
While we should commend these Asians, we should as Ugandans also prepare to make the best of the offer.
The sports ministry and the respective national associations should draw up a strategic plan.
What we need from the offer are medals not kyeyo seekers.
jbakama@newvision.co.ug