NCS must put in place a Sports Hall of Fame

Friday night saw Joshua Cheptegei cap a fine week after being crowned the 2018 Nile Special-Uspa sports personality of the year.
Cheptegei’s moment on Friday was owed to his achievements of last year and not the IAAF World Cross-Country gold he won in Aarhus, Denmark.
His historic gold, Uganda’s first in Cross-Country at senirop level, is sure to count high when the shortlist for the 2019 award is released come January next year.
Cheptegei joined legends like Charles Muhangi, Charlie Lubega, Polly Ouma, Stephen Kiprotich, Dorcus Inzikuru, Stephen Kiprotich and Moses Kipsiro among Ugandan sports stars to have been earned Uspa’s prestigious recognition.

But as with most awards, the passage of time tends to diminish an individual’s achievement. In fact many times a legend’s legacy is consigned to the history archives.
It is why Ugandan sports stars would be done a world of good if their contributions were honoured with a Sports Hall of Fame.
Greater sporting countries have created a Hall of Fame for their heroes and it should be a no-brainer for the Pearl of Africa.
The National Council of Sports (NCS) as the government regulatory body for sports should ideally take the lead in this venture.

The idea of this undertaking is to preserve an individual’s contribution for eternity while inspiring youngsters of today and tomorrow to work hard to make it to the Sports Hall of Fame.
Not every sports superstar for instance is going to have a road or stadium named after him like John Akii-Bua.
But with a Sports Hall or Wall of Fame, it would be possible to honour the achievements of greats from the 60s to date.
And their names would be etched in stone for eternity, out-living governments and generations.
Houses, cars money and all other material gifts are good but they get used up after a certain time.

NCS, having been in existence, since independence should be at the fore of establishing the methodology to guide candidates befitting of being inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.
Many countries in Africa – South Africa a prime example - and world over have built Sports Halls of Fame to, among other things, ensure that death does to put to and end the sporting contribution of outstanding sportsmen.
Perhaps it is too late now to get the project started for this year but it’s planning must start now with 2019 a realistic timeline to launch the idea.
The Sports Hall of Fame is long overdue.