Ten stories that stood out in 2014
Uganda’s Kipsiro (right) beats Kenya’s Josphat Kipkoech Bett and Canada’s Cameron Levins to win a dramatic 10,000m gold in Glasgow. Photo by AFP
What you need to know:
Written off after finishing eighth in the 5000m, Moses Kipsiro tore through the field at the death to become the first man to defend the 10,000m Commonwealth title
KAMPALA. It’s been a year of sporting highs and lows. There were all stories that stunned the country, for better or worse.
She Cranes reach World Cup
The She Cranes could pass for another word to mean perseverance. Against the odds, the netball team booked a slot at next year’s World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
Athletics sex scandal
Peter Wemali gained notoriety following allegations that he sexually and physically abused junior female athletes during a training camp in Bukwo in preparation for the March 16 Africa Cross-country Championships.
Death of Fahad Musana
Defender Fahad Musana died while watching a game between Chelsea and Manchester City a day after he suffered a head injury in a league game as his Simba team beat Entebbe 1-0 at Nakivubo Stadium.
Kipsiro wins 10,000m gold
Written off after finishing eighth in the 5000m, Moses Kipsiro tore through the field at the death to become the first man to defend the 10,000m Commonwealth title.
Bombers return with aplomb
Six years without making an appearance at a major championship due to administrative wrangles, the national boxing team the Bombers finished as the second best African team at the Commonwealth Games. This was after Michael Ssekabembe and Fazil Juma claimed two bronze medals at the showpiece.
Cranes the nearly men
Needing a point against Guinea to qualify, the Cranes lost 2-0 to prolong their absence at the Africa Cup of Nations to at least 39years.
Silverbacks, Gazelles shine
The national ladies’ basketball team the Gazelles qualified for the Afro basket championships and All Africa games for the first time, topping the three team, double round robin tournament after losing the opening two games.
Cheptegei, Nanyondo
In March Joshua Cheptegei and Winnie Nanyondo were the star performers for team Uganda as both clinched gold at the World University Cross Country Championship hosted in Entebbe. Cheptegei won the10.5km course in 31:06.71 while Nanyondo completed six-kilometre long course, in 20min 33.77sec to claim gold ahead of compatriots Dorcus Ajok and Prim Twikiriza. In July, Cheptegei also won the 10,000m race at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Oregon,USA while Nanyondo added bronze in the women’s 800m at the commonwealth games.
Mountain Runners
Isaac Kiprop won gold in the men’s senior race ahead of compatriots Daniel Rotich and Kibet Soyekwo as Uganda claimed the team event at the World Mountain Running Championships for the second year running.
Ivan Byekwaso wins silver
Byekwaso won a Silver medal at the 2014 World Natural Body Building Championships in Slovakia.
