Acon out to help Ugandan athletes
Jan 24, 2007
TWO-TIME Olympian Julius Acon (right) has teamed up with Canadian Karl Keirstead to help average Ugandan runners get scholarships in American colleges and elsewhere.
By Norman Katende
TWO-TIME Olympian Julius Acon (right) has teamed up with Canadian Karl Keirstead to help average Ugandan runners get scholarships in American colleges and elsewhere.
Through his organisation Acon Scholarship Club, the quarter miler will be connecting Ugandan athletes to American coaches.
Through this, it will be easier for the runners to get scholarships.
“Kenya sends over 30 athletes to America for scholarships. Why shouldn’t Uganda, that is also an upcoming athletics country send at least five for the scholarships.â€
Keirstead asked, before donating 40 pairs of shoes to local athletes in Bukwo.
Keirstead said that the scholarships will be given to average runners, not those who are promising to be international stars.
“He (Acon) is very eager to give something in Uganda. His real goal is to change the life of Ugandans. We want young people to use their lives to develop athletics and athletics to develop their lives,†explained Keirstead.
Keirstead looks at the offer as a big boost to keep athletes in schools as this will be an assurance that they have a future in books if they do not run very well and at the end of the day.
“It will motivate more people to take up athletics.â€
TWO-TIME Olympian Julius Acon (right) has teamed up with Canadian Karl Keirstead to help average Ugandan runners get scholarships in American colleges and elsewhere.
Through his organisation Acon Scholarship Club, the quarter miler will be connecting Ugandan athletes to American coaches.
Through this, it will be easier for the runners to get scholarships.
“Kenya sends over 30 athletes to America for scholarships. Why shouldn’t Uganda, that is also an upcoming athletics country send at least five for the scholarships.â€
Keirstead asked, before donating 40 pairs of shoes to local athletes in Bukwo.
Keirstead said that the scholarships will be given to average runners, not those who are promising to be international stars.
“He (Acon) is very eager to give something in Uganda. His real goal is to change the life of Ugandans. We want young people to use their lives to develop athletics and athletics to develop their lives,†explained Keirstead.
Keirstead looks at the offer as a big boost to keep athletes in schools as this will be an assurance that they have a future in books if they do not run very well and at the end of the day.
“It will motivate more people to take up athletics.â€