American coach frustrated with Uganda Athletics Federation
Sep 16, 2015
Vincent Okot''s coach Dean Hayes has urged the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) to do more if they want Ugandan athletes to benefit from the "several scholarships" he''s able to organise at various American Colleges/universities.
By Charles Mutebi
Vincent Okot's coach Dean Hayes has urged the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) to do more if they want Ugandan athletes to benefit from the "several scholarships" he's able to organise at various American Colleges/universities.
Hayes, who was head of US Men's Track and Field between 1992 and 2000, helped Okot secure a scholarship at Middle Tennessee States University in 2013 and watched the 25 year-old finish ninth in the men's triple jump event at the ongoing All Africa Games in Brazzaville on Monday.
Hayes lauded Okot as "a good talent" and added that he has made several efforts to get more Ugandan athletes at American universities but the visa restrictions at the American Embassy in Uganda and the lukewarm efforts of the UAF have been a hindrance.
"Mainly, it's the American Embassy that's been the biggest problem," Hayes explained. "There is no other Embassy anywhere else where it's so difficult to obtain a visa."
Hayes has helped nearly 20 Ghanaian athletes join American colleges and a number of them are taking part in the All Africa Games. Hayes paid for Okot's ticket after being informed at the last moment that Uganda would not do it, something that ended up costing nearly double what it would have cost if the communication had been in time.
Hayes noted that it's the kind of slackness that's hindered more Ugandan athletes from taking advantage of his scholarships.
"The athletics federation in Uganda needs to do more," Hayes insisted. "There plenty of scholarships and it only makes sense that talented athletes from countries like Uganda should take advantage of them. I mean, the facilities in the US are better, the training is better and the number of competitions in a year is much higher than what they have back home.
"Yes, it is hard to get a visa from the American Embassy but the process would be simplified if the athletics federation in Uganda was just a little more committed and organised."
Susan Nambawa was the first Ugandan to benefit from Hayes' scholarship but sprinter Ali Ngaimoko failed despite multiple efforts.
"Oh, we requested for a visa for Ali around five times and we were turned down," Hayes revealed. "It was just hectic."
Ngaimoko is now a member of the Uganda Police.
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