Magona and Blick show what contesting means
Apr 26, 2009
<b>Opinion</b><br><b>By Louis Jadwong</b><br>SPORTS EDITOR<br><br>OTHER than a few mentions in the press, you wouldn't know there was to be an election at the Uganda Rugby Union yesterday.
Opinion
By Louis Jadwong
SPORTS EDITOR
OTHER than a few mentions in the press, you wouldn't know there was to be an election at the Uganda Rugby Union yesterday.
There was no mud-slinging, no unrealistic or populist promises and not a sign of a candidate who was in it for the sake of seeking a new pay cheque. The contestants were very civil –– and of course for rugby, very eloquent as well.
There were no threats to "go to the bush" by any candidate if they did not win. Actually, one candidate promised to give a leading role to his rival in his executive if elected!
The two contestants William Blick and Peter Magona were only involved in arguments over issues and long-term strategy. It is actually the rugby voters who had a very rough time.
How do you choose between two contestants just 30 years old who have already proven themselves as brilliant managers in their respective professions outside the game? It is that management skill they want to bring to rugby, a game they actually also played at the very highest level.
While cricket set the pace in exemplary leadership among associations 20 years ago, rugby has moved on to new heights and become the fastest growing sport in the country. They are now the most popular sport in the leading secondary schools and universities in the country. What that means is that even the next generation of top managers in the government and private sector is likely to own a pair of rugby roots.
And they are not resting on their laurels as they are the only ones recruiting talent massively in northern Uganda. They know what it takes to get to the next level.
By Louis Jadwong
SPORTS EDITOR
OTHER than a few mentions in the press, you wouldn't know there was to be an election at the Uganda Rugby Union yesterday.
There was no mud-slinging, no unrealistic or populist promises and not a sign of a candidate who was in it for the sake of seeking a new pay cheque. The contestants were very civil –– and of course for rugby, very eloquent as well.
There were no threats to "go to the bush" by any candidate if they did not win. Actually, one candidate promised to give a leading role to his rival in his executive if elected!
The two contestants William Blick and Peter Magona were only involved in arguments over issues and long-term strategy. It is actually the rugby voters who had a very rough time.
How do you choose between two contestants just 30 years old who have already proven themselves as brilliant managers in their respective professions outside the game? It is that management skill they want to bring to rugby, a game they actually also played at the very highest level.
While cricket set the pace in exemplary leadership among associations 20 years ago, rugby has moved on to new heights and become the fastest growing sport in the country. They are now the most popular sport in the leading secondary schools and universities in the country. What that means is that even the next generation of top managers in the government and private sector is likely to own a pair of rugby roots.
And they are not resting on their laurels as they are the only ones recruiting talent massively in northern Uganda. They know what it takes to get to the next level.