Longiros upbeat about Uganda's chances

By James Bakama

COACH Benjamin Longiros is confident of polishing Uganda’s World University team into serious medal contenders.

“I have identified a few areas that need working on. We will have them sorted out in this final week,” said Longiros after selection of the cross-country team on Wednesday.

“Crucial areas to work on include speed and teamwork,” explained Longiros as the team of five women and seven men entered residential training at Ndejje University yesterday.

Longiros noted that with the athletes training individually, it was hard to get results. 

“It is not easy to monitor people when they are based in different places.”

A squad of 21 runners has been converging thrice a week at Kyambogo for training. 

“But with the team now in camp, monitoring of form will be easy. It will also be easier to have the team focused,” noted Longiros.

Algeria, Kenya and Morocco are the only African countries to have won medals in the biennial event. 

At the 1996 edition in Albufeira, Portugal Kenya made history by becoming the first African country to strike gold.

It was a clean sweep that had Daniel Njenga taking gold, John Mutei (silver) and Bernard Lagat (bronze).

Uganda becomes the second African country to host the competition. Until 2006 when Algeria staged the cross-country, the competition had become a European affair. 

Canada is the only other country outside Europe that has hosted the world meet.