Brussels flies out National team

By Norman Katende

Brussels Airlines has promised to continue their facilitation to sports to enable it develop.

The country manager Sebastian Spijkers  made the pledge while handing  over seven tickets to the  national team to the Mountain Running championships due Sunday in Italy.

The team departed Wednesday evening aboard a Brussels flight fight via Belgium, after being flagged off at Lugogo.

They are expected to arrive in Italy Thursday morning where they will be received by the athletics federation general secretary, Beatrice Ayikoru.

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The team after securing their tickets from Brussels Airlines. PHOTO/Norman Katende

“It is not about how much money we have sunk in the team but the fact that Ugandan athletes are getting an opportunity to go out and compete against the world’s best. We are sure that they will have good results,” said Spijkers, who was franked by Brussels Sales Executive, Suzanne Othieno.

 “We are proud and blessed that we are sponsoring the national team. Athletics is making large strides and as Brussels we are looking forward at being part of these strides,” added Spijkers.

The tickets were handed over to National Council of Sports general secretary Jasper Aligawesa, who later handed them over to the team.

“You are the best we have and we believe that you will also represent us well,” said Aligawesa before flagging off the team.

The Belgium based flight company  is sponsoring the national team for the second time this year, having sponsored the national  team to the World Half marathon that was held in Copenhagen, Denmark  in March this year.

Uganda Athletics Federation vice president Lawrence Kavuma said that the technical committee  made up of Charles Mukiibi and Benjamin Njia had been handling the team well  while in camp and they had no doubt of the better performance that the team will put up.

The team will be led by Daniel Rotich and has Isaac Kiprop, Kibet Soyekwa, James Kibet and Nathan Ayeko, who will be fighting for the men’s senior event.

Philip Kipyeko will be competing in the junior men category with Stella Chesang and Patricia Chekwemoi be competing in the junior women event.