Youth sparkle signals a bright future
Jul 25, 2010
AFTER bomb blasts that left close to 80 dead and several injured our youths finally brought some joy to the country. Uganda won two golds, four silvers and five bronze medals at two major international meets.
'I SAY SO' - James Bakama
AFTER bomb blasts that left close to 80 dead and several injured our youths finally brought some joy to the country. Uganda won two golds, four silvers and five bronze medals at two major international meets.
Iganga student Annet Negesa stood out with a world junior championship bronze. She rose to the podium with an 800 meter national record.
Weightlifter Charles Sekyaya was equally dazzling with two gold medals at the inaugural Africa Youth Championships in Morocco.
Our ill prepared team, further made a strong impression in Rabat with two silvers in swimming and three table tennis bronze medals.
Our performance in Moncton, Canada and Rabat certainly signals a bright future. That is at least if we can nurture this same talent to also shine at senior level.
In Nagesa, not only do I see a teenager bursting with potential, but also a true Ugandan whose patriotism can’t be questioned. She is a classic case of some serious work by the athletics body, UAF, that has largely been depending on imported talent.
Sekyaya could be Uganda’s surprise for the 2012 London Olympics. That he could rise from a makeshift gym in Kasubi and beat superpowers like Egypt and Tunisia, says volumes.
Swimmer Jamila Lunkuse is certainly also headed for big things. It takes outstanding talent to emerge from miniature pools of one of Uganda’s minor sports to two continental silvers.
Uganda’s vast potential was perhaps best underlined by table tennis. What was more of not only a random, but also last minute selection, resulted in three bronze medals.
Lydia Nadunga, winner of the two of the table tennis medals, confessed that she wasn’t the best choice for the trip. She however noted that with better preparation she could have won.
UTTA boss Denis Galabuzi therefore has a point when he insists that Uganda will reap medals at next year’s All Africa Games.
You’ve certainly not forgotten that besides athletics and boxing, table tennis is the only sport that has brought us medals at senior level on the big stage.
Don’t be surprised if we sparkle at the coming Commonwealth Games.
jbakama@newvision.co.ug
AFTER bomb blasts that left close to 80 dead and several injured our youths finally brought some joy to the country. Uganda won two golds, four silvers and five bronze medals at two major international meets.
Iganga student Annet Negesa stood out with a world junior championship bronze. She rose to the podium with an 800 meter national record.
Weightlifter Charles Sekyaya was equally dazzling with two gold medals at the inaugural Africa Youth Championships in Morocco.
Our ill prepared team, further made a strong impression in Rabat with two silvers in swimming and three table tennis bronze medals.
Our performance in Moncton, Canada and Rabat certainly signals a bright future. That is at least if we can nurture this same talent to also shine at senior level.
In Nagesa, not only do I see a teenager bursting with potential, but also a true Ugandan whose patriotism can’t be questioned. She is a classic case of some serious work by the athletics body, UAF, that has largely been depending on imported talent.
Sekyaya could be Uganda’s surprise for the 2012 London Olympics. That he could rise from a makeshift gym in Kasubi and beat superpowers like Egypt and Tunisia, says volumes.
Swimmer Jamila Lunkuse is certainly also headed for big things. It takes outstanding talent to emerge from miniature pools of one of Uganda’s minor sports to two continental silvers.
Uganda’s vast potential was perhaps best underlined by table tennis. What was more of not only a random, but also last minute selection, resulted in three bronze medals.
Lydia Nadunga, winner of the two of the table tennis medals, confessed that she wasn’t the best choice for the trip. She however noted that with better preparation she could have won.
UTTA boss Denis Galabuzi therefore has a point when he insists that Uganda will reap medals at next year’s All Africa Games.
You’ve certainly not forgotten that besides athletics and boxing, table tennis is the only sport that has brought us medals at senior level on the big stage.
Don’t be surprised if we sparkle at the coming Commonwealth Games.
jbakama@newvision.co.ug