Discipline was Uganda’s Olympic medal from Rio

Team Uganda on arrival from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro at Entebbe Airport on Thursday. PHOTO BY ABDUL-NASSER SSEMUGABI

What you need to know:

Olympics. Team Manager Cedric Babu saluted the athletes for keeping out of trouble throughout the entire Games.

ENTEBBE.

The mood at Entebbe International Airport on Thursday was calm, lacking the usual pomp that welcomes a victorious Ugandan athlete.

Only a few of the 13 Olympians were received by their families and friends; no wonder only two media houses covered the event as Team Uganda returned from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The modest welcome was obviously because unlike after London 2012 where marathon runner Stephen Kiprotich gave Uganda the last laugh with a gold medal, this time the medal hunt by a big team of 21 athletes, was a futile venture. And in a country where everyone proudly associates with success and shuns failure, you would not expect a bigger occasion.

However, as the contingent enjoyed a sumptuous meal at Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe, Daily Monitor learnt that discipline was Uganda’s Olympic gold medal.

“Everyone told me Uganda was the most behaved team in Rio,” team manager Cedric Babu said. “…I also want to thank all the athletes for the good conduct.”

No mean feat
If you think this was a mean feat, boxers Hassan Saada and Jonas Junius of Morocco and Namibia respectively were arrested for alleged sexual assault and they missed action in the ring.

Similarly, American swimmers Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz led by gold medallist Ryan Lochte came under fierce criticism for causing unnecessary tension when they alleged that policemen robbed them on gunpoint. Lochte has lost all four of his sponsors for that foolery and despite his apologies he is likely to face sanctions from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

All officials on the team plus presiding captain Joshua Cheptegei, commended the athletes for good conduct. Babu, the head of the Uganda Lawn Tennis Association, also asked the government to support athletes’ preparations, “not just a few months to the Games.”

Halima Nakaayi, who improved her personal best to 1:59sec in the 800m, and qualified for the World Championships next year, is positive the future is bright.

Bright future
Ronald Musagala blamed his failure at the 1500m final on “very slow pace” by all the competitors, but he hopes for better.

Juliet Chekwel, who never finished the 10,000m after being overlapped twice by supersonic champion Almaz Ayana, expects an immediate return to the track in the Italy next month.

Nicholas Muramagi, the general secretary of the National Council of Sports (NCS), reiterated NCS’s commitment to channelling resources to “only those federations which show potential to churn out talent.”
He also the sung the old chorus of returning to the proverbial drawing board but the ‘drawing board’ seems to be full of indelible ink.

UGANDAN ATHLETES FROM RIO
Stephen Kiprotich, Solomon Munyo Mutai, Jackson Kiprop, Adero Nyakisi, Joshua Cheptegei, Timothy Toroitich, Moses Kurong, Juliet Chekwel, Philip Kipyeko, Stella Chesang, Jacob Kiplimo, Benjamin Kiplagat, Jacob Araptany, Peruth Chemutai, Ronald Musagala, Winnie Nanyondo, Halima Nakaayi, Kennedy Katende, Ronald Serugo, Joshua Ekirikubinza, Jamila Lunkuse