Dolphins, Seals to play catch-up after coronavirus setback

Apr 15, 2020

"The moment they shut down schools, we also shut down."

CORONAVIRUS & SPORTS

KAMPALA - Dolphins and Seals swim clubs will be looking to make up for lost time after the lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis ends.

The two biggest swimming clubs in the country were due to host the Dolphins Junior Swimming Championship and the Seals League Meet-2 this month (April) - then coronavirus came knocking.

All sporting activities in Uganda have been suspended as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Uganda Swimming Federation was due to send a team to the CANA Championship in South Africa.

"The moment they shut down schools, we also shut down. We were supposed to hold a juniors event early this month but the USF had also suspended activities until further notice," said Dolphins club administrator Isaac Bwire.

"If the lockdown comes to an end, I am sure most parents might delay allowing their children back out of fear that maybe the virus is still out there. But also the facilities we use are owned by schools, so we don't know what their take will be after the pandemic," he added.

The fitness levels of the swimmers and the competition with their studies is another challenge that the coaches will encounter if the normal order is restored.

olphins arren samula powers through the waters last yearDolphins' Darren Ssamula powers through the waters last year

 

"If we are to resume, it might take the young ones some time, but we have been engaging those above 12 years with exercises that they have been doing at home under the supervision of their parents. I think if we were to restart under normal circumstances within a month we shall be up and running," said Bwire.

"But schools will also have a different agenda in order to catch up on lost time. Nonetheless, I think we will finally recover."

On the missed events due to the lockdown, Bwire said they will have to consult the USF on the way forward and re-engage venue owners (Gems Cambridge International School) and find out which dates are appropriate.

"So it has to align with the federation and with activities of other clubs as well as the FINA calendar," he explained.

Seals Club chairman Tefiro Serunjogi believes it will take long before all sports people get back near to where they were before, much as they have encouraged their swimmers to do exercises at home.

"It is not the same as training on a daily basis in the swimming pool, so we cannot speculate when we don't know when this will end," he said.

"We have been affected like everyone else, but the long-term priority is the safety of the swimmers and we have to follow the government guidelines. Sport is not a one-day thing.

"Life and health is what matters now. When government announces normal activity, we shall be in a position to start the process of getting where we were before," added Serunjogi.


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