Kip focuses on Rio gold

Kenya’s World and Olympic steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi (L) and Kiprotich dance to a Kikuyu tune at the Uspa Gala on Saturday night . Photo by Ismail Kezaala

What you need to know:

After clinching his second straight Nile Special-Uspa Sports Personality of the Year award, Olympic and World marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich revealed he is working towards defending his titles.

KAMPALA-Since he won World Championships gold in Moscow last year, Stephen Kiprotich has endured some difficult moments on the road.

Ever since that feat to date, he has competed in the New York and London marathons respectively, finishing 12th in both.

Those are not performances Ugandans expect from the 2012 Olympic marathon champion. He admits he is undergoing a bad patch but hopes to hit the right gear at the right time.
“You see, every sportsman has his bad times. Maybe this is my turn,” Kiprotich told Daily Monitor after predictably beating netballer/basketballer Peace Proscovia and rally ace Jas Mangat to win his second straight Nile Special-Uganda Sports Press Association (Uspa) Sports Personality of the Year award. “But I am not worried, I will get back to my best.”

Having clocked 2:09:51 to win gold at the World Championships in Moscow last August, Kiprotich was easily the country’s best performer in 2013. It would have been a big shock had anyone else claimed the Uspa award.

And in winning it, Kiprotich became only the second individual athlete after Moses Kipsiro to hold the accolade for two straight years.

“Today, I am happy to have won again,” Kiprotich, dressed in a black suit, said shortly after receiving his diadem from chief guest, Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga.
The 25-year-old promised to defend his two titles starting with the World Championships in Beijing, China next year. “My mind is set for the competition in 2015 and 2016 (Olympics). I am still young and I need your support,” he added.

Kadaga threw the audience into laughter while crediting Uspa. “Today, I did not listen to points of order or points of inquiry. I thank Uspa for this moment to fraternise with the champions.”
Basketball side City Oilers beat Heathens (rugby), She Cranes (netball), Nemostars (volleyball) and Uganda Cranes (soccer) to win the Team of the Year award.
Playing in their maiden topflight season, City Oilers defeated the hugely-experienced Falcons to win the Fuba League title last year.

USPA ROLL OF HONOUR
2004: Kassim Ouma (Boxing)
2005:Dorcus Inzikuru (Athletics)
2006: Boniface Kiprop (Athletics)
2007: Moses Kipsiro (Athletics)
2008: Moses Kipsiro (Athletics)
2009: MTN Heathens (Rugby)
2010: Moses Kipsiro (Athletics)
2011: Susan Muwonge (Motor Rallying)
2012: Stephen Kiprotich (Athletics)
2013: Stephen Kiprotich (Athletics)

WINNERS

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Male: Stephen Kiprotich
Female: Juliet Chekwel
BASKETBALLER OF THE YEAR
Male: Jimmy Enabu
Female: Peace Proscovia
BADMINTON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Male: Herbert Ebayo
Female: Shamim Bangi
TABLE TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Male: Kevin Mafabi
Female: Amina Lukaaya
GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Female: Flavia Namakula
Male: Willy Kitata
CRICKETER OF THE YEAR
Male: Arthur Kyobe
Female: Prico Nakitende
POOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Female: Ritah Ninsiima
Male: Fahad Ssewakambo
KARATE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Male: Martin Emoku
Female: Joyce Bako
WOODBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Male: Joel Odopa
Female: Lillian Zawedde
RUGBY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Male: Michael Wokorach
Female: Brenda Kayiyi
CHESS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Male: Elijah Emojong
Female: Sharon Twongyeire
VOLLEYBALLER OF THE YEAR
Male: George Aporu
Female: Maureen Mwamula
DARTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Male: Mathias Okwi
Female: Dina Amoding
HANDBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Male: Ibrahim Kongo
Female: Harriet Apaku
WEIGHTLIFTER OF THE YEAR
Male: Semei Kasumba
Female: Becky Namusoke
NETBALLER OF THE YEAR
Male:Ibrahim Kongo
Female: Peace Proscovia
KICKBOXER OF THE YEAR
Moses Golola
SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
Namutebi Kirabo
SQUASH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Michael Kawooya
BOXER OF THE YEAR
Joseph Lubega
FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
Daniel Sserunkuma
MOTOCROSS RIDER OF THE YEAR

Fortune Sentamu
TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Duncan Mugabe
BODYBUILDER OF THE YEAR
Ivan Byekwaso
CYCLIST OF THE YEAR
Leon Twaha
RALLY CREW OF THE YEAR
Jas Mangat and Gihan De Silva