Uganda gripped by Bolt fever
Aug 31, 2008
I SAY SO<br><br><b>By James Bakama</b><br><br>IT’S called the Olympic fever. Its over a week since the Beijing Olympics ended but the world is still gripped by some of those incredible athletics feats from the Games.
I SAY SO
By James Bakama
IT’S called the Olympic fever. Its over a week since the Beijing Olympics ended but the world is still gripped by some of those incredible athletics feats from the Games.
That’s quite understandable for the biggest sports event.
Each of these Games produces its own heroes but there are those that stand out for bringing forth legends.
The 1936 Games in Beijing were a classic example. They produced Jesse Owens who went on to disprove Adolf Hitler’s beliefs of a superior Aryan race with four gold medals.
In Beijing, Usain Bolt was the man. The towering sprinter gripped the world as he blazed to 100m, 200m and 100x 4 gold medals and world records.
The Bolt fever has understandably also struck Uganda.
We suddenly have many experts who can not only lecture you on what makes Bolt tick, but also what record he will shatter next.
Is it therefore a surprise that we are in the final week of our soccer encounter with Niger yet the bulk of Uganda’s soccer fraternity is still in Beijing?
So, just imagine what would have happened if John Akii-Bua’s amazing world record run had been at the Beijing Games.
But may be its good for the spotlight to be off the Cranes.
The last time they got so much attention in an away encounter they failed to overrun minnows Lesotho.
As the Bolt-mania hit fever pitch, FUFA was working round the clock to streamline the Niamey trip.
Hotels have already been booked; other basics like proper training grounds also won’t be a problem.
I also hope that FUFA has also done something to avoid a repeat of the biased officiation Uganda was in 2006 subjected to in Naimey.
A win in Niamey will put us on course for a place in the final qualifiers.
When we get to that stage, then the Cranes will like the Olympians also be set for the big stage.
Let’s all rally behind them.
By James Bakama
IT’S called the Olympic fever. Its over a week since the Beijing Olympics ended but the world is still gripped by some of those incredible athletics feats from the Games.
That’s quite understandable for the biggest sports event.
Each of these Games produces its own heroes but there are those that stand out for bringing forth legends.
The 1936 Games in Beijing were a classic example. They produced Jesse Owens who went on to disprove Adolf Hitler’s beliefs of a superior Aryan race with four gold medals.
In Beijing, Usain Bolt was the man. The towering sprinter gripped the world as he blazed to 100m, 200m and 100x 4 gold medals and world records.
The Bolt fever has understandably also struck Uganda.
We suddenly have many experts who can not only lecture you on what makes Bolt tick, but also what record he will shatter next.
Is it therefore a surprise that we are in the final week of our soccer encounter with Niger yet the bulk of Uganda’s soccer fraternity is still in Beijing?
So, just imagine what would have happened if John Akii-Bua’s amazing world record run had been at the Beijing Games.
But may be its good for the spotlight to be off the Cranes.
The last time they got so much attention in an away encounter they failed to overrun minnows Lesotho.
As the Bolt-mania hit fever pitch, FUFA was working round the clock to streamline the Niamey trip.
Hotels have already been booked; other basics like proper training grounds also won’t be a problem.
I also hope that FUFA has also done something to avoid a repeat of the biased officiation Uganda was in 2006 subjected to in Naimey.
A win in Niamey will put us on course for a place in the final qualifiers.
When we get to that stage, then the Cranes will like the Olympians also be set for the big stage.
Let’s all rally behind them.