Many upcoming athletes in Lira say they are failing to pursue their dream sport due to lack of sponsors for professional training and exposure.
They say most of them only end up with the schools' competitions which are largely hastily organized and do not yield much.
Loy Angom, a student at Aloi comprehensive school, says that she has future ambitions to become an international athlete but lacks money for sporting gears and professional training.
Philip Oweta, another upcoming athlete at Lira secondary school, is, however, optimistic that through his exploits on the track he could break it on the international stage.
The two are part of several athletes in Lira who have been preparing to take part in the regional and national cross country athletics competitions that prepared runners for the World Cross Country championships that ended in Spain on 20 March.
Bua Ageta, a Lira-based athletics coach and delegate to the Uganda Athletics Federation, shares the concern by the young runners. He says that many times he is frustrated when after training the runners they are unable to progress to senior levels due to mainly lack of sponsors.
Ageta explains that a sponsor is necessary to help provide the athletes with financial and logistical support as well as rigorous training.
He says almost all the athletes sporting equipment and energy-giving foods necessary for field endurance, addingg that that is why there are many athletes without national and international exposure.
//Cue in: As a coach, when I train…”
Cue out: “….they must have meals.”//
Lira has in the past produced successful athletes who include the 1972 Munich Olympic gold medalist, John Akii Bua and recent ones like Janet Achola, Jimmy Adar and Julius Acon.
