Kiprotich keeps Olympics focus despite unfulfilled Presidential pledge

Kampala- At this point in time, any athlete bound for the Rio Olympics, irrespective of nationality, should ideally be in the best mental shape.

Of the 21-man team expected to represent Uganda at the XXXI Olympiad, some souls are hurting within as they have missed a monthly stipend from State House for eight months.

This token was introduced by President Yoweri Museveni for any medal winner to motivate runners after Moses Kipsiro bagged double gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.

“We wonder why we stopped receiving the money,” queried one of the athletes leading a group from Sebei region while preferring anonymity for fear of reprisal from Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF).

Rio-bound marathoner Stephen Kiprotich is one of those affected. “For me am now used to that,” he openly told this newspaper via phone from his training base in Eldoret, Kenya.

After Kiprotich struck marathon gold at the 2012 London Olympics, the country’s only second Olympic gold in 40 years after legendary John Akii-Bua, that triggered Museveni.

He upped the prize to Shs5m for gold, Shs3m for silver and Shs1m for a bronze medal per month.

“I have not been affected much but many of my colleagues have struggled without that money,” said Kiprotich who departs for Rio on August 16.

“All that I want now is to raise Uganda’s flag high again in Rio.” he added.
Should he repeat the magic, Kiprotich will become the third man to retain his Olympic marathon title after Ethiopian Abebe Bikila (1960 & 1964) and German Waldemar Cierpinski (1976 & 1980).

Nearly all 17 runners heading to Rio have won medals at different championships since 2010 and are entitled to this money bar Jackson Kiprop, Ronald Musagala and Timothy Toroitich.

“We inquired from State House why we were not getting it, they told us the money was being used in Presidential campaigns,” the runner leading the Sebei group stressed in a recent interview.

“When we went back, they told us to wait after Museveni’s swearing in. They later told us to wait after reading the national budget. All those have passed and nothing is changing,” a female runner chipped in.

“We want to let the President know that we badly need the money to support our families and training for future tournaments.

We would have more athletes going to Rio and more medals if the President listened to our cry. May be he is sending the money but not aware that we are not receiving it.”
In an interview with State Minister for Sports Charles Bakkabulindi that ran in Sunday Monitor, he said: “I was not aware about those athletes and their payments not coming.”

dkyeyune@ug.nationmedia.com