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Cheptegei wants Shs1.7b to complete elite centre
Platform Set. Cheptegei (L) consults with Allan Chekwech, the Head of Corporate Affairs of the Kapchorwa-based Joshua Cheptegei Training Centre during the drive launch at Serena Hotel in Kampala yesterday. PHOTO / ISMAIL KEZAALA
What you need to know:
- The Plan. According to the long-distance athlete, the project which sits on 30-acres of purchased land is now 60 percent complete with a murram track and small hostel costing about Shs1.9bn.
The longer you interact with 5000m world and Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei, the more you realize how much he thinks long-term.
After his triumph and 10,000m silver at the Tokyo Olympics that climaxed last week and cemented his legacy as Uganda’s greatest sports personality ever, Cheptegei is taking time off to uplift the chances of future prospects.
The 24-year-old – looking fresh, relaxed, and clad in a blue shirt and army green pants at a press conference held yesterday at Kampala Serena Hotel – launched a 100-days public fundraising drive to raise Shs1.7b ($500,000) towards the completion of his Kapchorwa-based Joshua Cheptegei Training Centre.
Sacrifice required
“The race to truly conquer and dominate the track for Uganda requires the sacrifice and marathon we are about to undertake together,” Chepetegei said as he urged Ugandans to lend him a hand.
“Over the last years, I have dedicated my winnings from the race track towards the construction of the centre that is built to international standards and can act as a vehicle for young athletics talent in Uganda and beyond to achieve their dreams, like mine, of winning gold,” added the athlete, who also runs a foundation since 2016 to avail healthcare and education to fellow athletes and the underprivileged in his home area.
According to the long-distance athlete, the project which sits on 30-acres of purchased land is now 60 percent complete with a murram track and small hostel costing about Shs1.9bn.
Galaxy of dreams
He now wants to construct a world-class hotel fitted with fitness and other related equipment. The Uganda Tourism Board ambassador, who made it a point to advertise Uganda’s silverbacks by beating his chest during his medal ceremonies, also envisions installing a first-of-its-kind museum to teach the values of local athletes while authentically telling their stories to future tourists
It is actually open for work and he hosted some team sessions there ahead of his 2019 World Cross Country Championship win in Aarhus – Denmark. He has also started to nurture new talent and he put his hand up for public appraisal when he informed President Yoweri Museveni at Wednesday’s state reception of the Olympic team in Kololo of his protégés Dan Kibet and Martha Chemutai.
Different focus
Cheptegei, however, insists that the facility was never born out of frustration over the delays at the Kiprotich High Altitude Centre in Teryet that was promised by the President in 2011 but is yet to be completed and commissioned for work.
“This is a complimentary facility and is open to other athletes,” Cheptegei said.
Chepetegei has no time for negative thoughts so he did not field questions on what happens if the fundraiser does not hit the desired target.
Instead, the belief that has led him to conquering the world, drives the thought that when the fundraiser ends, they will have the resources to finish work in six months.
HOW TO SUPPORT CHEP
To support the drive, contributions can be sent to;
MTN Momo Pay
Merchant code: 319325
Bank Details
Name: Cheptegei Joshua Kiprui
Bank: Stanbic Bank, Kapchorwa Branch
Shs. Account: 9030016912866
Dollar A/C: 9030016913633
