Team’s dismal show explained

Aug 27, 2010

UGANDA’S dismal display at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games has been attributed to lack of funds and proper training programmes. Zakaria Kiprotich saved the country from leaving the show in Singapore empty handed by winning a 2000m steeplechase bronze.

By Norman Katende
UGANDA’S dismal display at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games has been attributed to lack of funds and proper training programmes. Zakaria Kiprotich saved the country from leaving the show in Singapore empty handed by winning a 2000m steeplechase bronze.

Uganda finished 91st out of 205 countries at the 12-day games where China topped the medals tally followed by Russia and South Korea. Kiprotich rose to the medal’s podium as his other five colleagues in athletics, swimming, weightlifting and badminton failed to shine.

Uganda’s team official Godfrey Nuwagaba said some domestic federations did not take the games seriously by sending their athletes for qualifiers. The former runner said that those that did so did not have enough funds to put their athletes in training and give them the necessary technical support in form of coaches.

Elaborating his point, Nuwagaba said Kiprotich and Alex Cherop have never been handled by any professional coach. Kiprotich was handled by Ben Siwa who started steeplechase running five months ago.

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