Uganda went into the 2023 FIM Motocross of Africa Nations (MXOAN) last week among the favourites. 

However, the team didn't live up to its billing as it finished fifth overall and only got an individual gold medal courtesy of Stav Orland.

Youngster Jude Musede got a podium finish in the first heat but later on, the second day did not go well as he had malaria. 

For the first time, Uganda took a full team in almost all categories except in the MX2 and MX1 and veterans. 

It finished behind winners South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia who finished second, third, and fourth respectively. 

However, the underperformance was not that riders were bad, but it was administrative. 

According to a parent rider, the Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) came up at the last minute when most riders had already given up and if it had been earlier planned many riders would have had ample time to train psychologically and mentally. 

That explains why Uganda could not field a full team in some classes like MX1 yet riders including Fatu Kiggundu and Maxime Van Pee were available. 

Unlike the opponents who trained together as a team, that was not the case with Uganda. Each rider and their parent found his or her way of training thus there was no even team bonding.

The late follow-up on the visa applications which was delayed by the slow process at the Visa Department of South Africa further disorganised the team. 

The failure of the team to get the bikes in time was the last blow since the riders did not get time to feel the track before the competition. 

The team got their bikes on Saturday morning, the day the competitions started, and had only one lap of practice which was not enough for them to master the track. 

The South African customs department could not release the bikes before pay sh20m bonded fee was paid and even after paying on Friday, the customs system was very slow. 

This affected the team's performance, and that explains why many fell several times during competitions. 

Team manager Reynolds Kibira contends that the late preparations affected the team.

"If we had got everything in place earlier and the riders practiced, then we would have finished on the podium, “Kibira added. 

He explained that riders went on to improve their performance in the last heats because they had gotten used to the track.

Lessons

According to Kibira, there is a need for early preparations, bringing trainers to train Ugandan riders together which helps them in bonding.

He also noted that there is a need for an advanced team to make sure that when the bikes arrive clearing is done in time and the team is ready to train as per the competition schedule. 

"The other important thing is the team traveling together and staying together. This helps bonding and planning of strategies of how to approach the races,” Kibira noted.

“On top of all those challenges, we stayed in different places which also affected us. Remember we went in three groups, so coordination and team talk could be realised easily, “Kibira explained. 

He, however, congratulated the team for their resilient character and willingness to represent their country amidst all those challenges.

A parent who preferred anonymity added that the federation should stop leaving the parents to pull all their resources and then come up at the last hour when many have given up.

“A National team is not for parents, it is the responsibility of the Federation to scout the riders, name the national team, train it, dress it, and feed it as other federations do,” A parent noted.

Next year’s film is expected to go to Morocco.