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Cheptegei gets hero’s welcome
Golden star. Joshua Cheptegei (centre) carried shoulder-high, Jacob Kiplimo (right) and Oscar Chelimo at Kwoti Primary School in Kapchorwa District on Wednesday. PHOTO BY MICHEAL WONIALA
What you need to know:
- Ms Phyllis Chemutai, the former Kapchorwa Woman MP, said government should learn to tap talent at grass roots if it wants sustainability in getting medals.
Kapchorwa. Hundreds of residents in Sebei Sub-region on Wednesday welcomed Mr Joshua Cheptegei, who won a gold medal at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, on March 30.
Mr Cheptegei become the first Ugandan to win gold in the men’s senior category at the Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Cross Country Championship.
When his convoy arrived in Kapchorwa Town at 11am, business came to a standstill for hours as excited residents flooded the streets to give him a heroic welcome.
Mr Cheptegei was accompanied by Mr Moses Ndiema Kipsiro, a former double Commonwealth champion, Mr Jacob Kiplimo, who took silver at the IAAF race and Oscar Chelimo, who won bronze in the Junior Men’s race.
Residents climbed buildings as boda bodas hooted in unison to welcome the athlete.
Others sang and danced for hours as the athlete set foot in his home village in Chepchabai, Kwoti Sub-county.
“I am grateful and humbled that I made my country proud,” Mr Cheptegei told the residents.
He expressed disappointment for failure by government to support the growth and development of talent, especially athletics.
Mr Cheptegei urged government to speed up the construction of Teryet High Altitude Training Centre.
Bishop Paul Masaba of Sebei Diocese said although the region is blessed with enormous talent, it remains unexploited due to lack of facilities.
“Government should ensure that the high altitude centre is completed so that we can nurture talent,” he said.
Bishop Masaba also asked government to tarmac Teryet Road, saying it is an international road, with huge economic potential.
“I also ask government to renovate Kwoti Primary School where Cheptegei studied so that people can see his humble beginnings,” he said.
Ms Phyllis Chemutai, the former Kapchorwa Woman MP, said government should learn to tap talent at grass roots if it wants sustainability in getting medals.
“We need sports officers at every primary school so that they can help in search and growth of children with different talents,” she said.
