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UAF President Dominic Otucet made the appeal during the launch of the one-week celebrations program for World Kids Athletics Day at Kasana Stadium in Luwero district.
The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has urged secondary schools in the country to support sports, especially athletics, for the development of elite athletes.
UAF President Dominic Otucet made the appeal during the launch of the one-week celebrations program for World Kids Athletics Day at Kasana Stadium in Luwero district.
According to Otucet, primary schools are doing everything possible to identify talents, but secondary schools are not doing enough and need to up their game.
"We are losing many talents at the school level,” Otucet said, adding; “So, I urge headteachers and especially directors of private secondary schools to support sports in their schools.”
“This will help us produce more elite athletes," he continued.
The UAF president added that the organization intends to enter partnerships with Uganda Primarily Schools Sports Association and the Uganda Secondary School Sports Association to train more technical staff to handle the increasing demand for coaching.
He was impressed by the big turn of districts to participate in the celebrations.
"I am impressed that 145 districts have turned up for these celebrations. We have trained 220 officials, and we are going to add more," Otucet added.
Otucet's call for secondary schools to support sports in their institutions was supported by Mukono district LC5 chairman Rev Peter Bakaluba Mukasa.
He also urged the government to invest more in school sports to enable the identification and nurturing of more talents.
"I urge the government to invest more in school sports to enable the identification and nurturing of more talents," Bakaluba stated.
Chief guest Gunter Lange also emphasized the importance of early skills development for the growth of elite athletes.
"Early skills development is the way to more elite athletes, and as the government funds sports, please headteachers to prioritize sports in your schools," Lange said.
The World Kids Athletics Day celebrations will last for a week and are expected to attract participants from across the country.
The UAF President's appeal for secondary schools to support sports is timely, given the need to develop more elite athletes in the country.
With the right support, secondary schools can play a significant role in identifying and nurturing talented athletes who can represent the country in international competitions.
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