It isn't easy to be a one-man team as I was

By Irene Ajambo

I have been in a similar situation as Uganda’s lone weightlifter to the London Olympics, Charles Ssekyaya.

I was the only Ugandan who represented the country in this sport at the 2004 games in Athens, Greece. It can get quite lonely if you are a one-man team. In such moments, the coach plays a crucial role.

In my case I was lucky to have two officials with keen interest in my performance - coach Augustine Kayondo and Uganda’s leader of delegation Salim Musoke, who also happened to be the head of the national weightlifting body.

When it gets to the competition proper, there is need for composure for both Ssekyaya and his coach.

Each category has standard starting weights. Some competitors start off with heavier weights as a psychological trick to scare their opponents. 

Be yourself

I would advise Ssekyaya to be himself. He should not attempt anything beyond his means. He should take his time and start off with weights he is comfortable with, then slowly make additions.

At the end of the day, it is your total that matters most. It doesn’t pay to get excited and go for a weight you can’t carry.

But his performance will also be determined by his psyche. This is where the coach comes in. I have seen coaches who panic even more than their athletes.As a coach, you must lift the spirits of your athletes in low moments.

Just like my case in 2004, Ssekyaya is also just emerging from junior ranks. For such a young player, a competition as huge as the Olympics can be intimidating.

But with the kind of exposure Ssekyaya has had in Colorado USA, he has the required mental strength. Ssekyaya please stay focused. The moment you get on stage and start lifting those weights, you will realise that it is just another competition. Let me wind up by wishing you the best.

You have an entire nation behind you.

As told to James Bakama