By Morish Dramadri

Arua

The Arua cities inter zonal kids athletics finally comes to its climax amidst the interference by weather with a heavy down pour on the first day. The kids athletics which was only for the under 12^th category attracted the 6 zones in the city with Northern zone under the central division as the champion and Oluko-Dadamu zone as the runner up.

Victor Alioni the chairperson for the city sports committee expresses his dismay over some schools who after participation fail to send their participants for the next stages. “in most cases when some participants are selected the head teachers do not want to release them, we are facing this challenge in all stages especially with the private schools here, you send your child to participate but when this child is selected you retain the person there. So it is very useless for you to participate in these activities if you don’t want your child to go and represent the city”, Alioni cried out. The activity of the kids’ athletics was designed to cater for every age group in the primary school age.


Left to right Arua city sports officer, inspector of schools Ayivu division handing over Trophy Champions

Likha Muktar the Arua city sports officer blames the head teachers who conquered with the technical team for a decision to consider only the under 12^th category which he says will kills talents in the city. “Kids’ athletics is a special event in that you have three categories and each category has its unique skills to practice.

Right now we have actually the skills for under-12 which are not there for under-14 and 16. If we continue with under 12^th then we are doing a very big disservice to our children, meaning that next year we are going to leave these children redundant. Then the question is, “how are we developing these children to reach the elite stage?” it will be very bad for these children meaning that we will be leaving them just like that and there will be no development of games and sports in Arua city. Let us go back and review our decision and sit down because when this issue was raised many of you were clapping their hands and rejoicing not knowing that the harm you are doing to athletics”, Likha Muktar sadly said.      

But Simon Okuonzi the inspector of schools for Ayivu division upon representing the city principal education officer regrets the decision “as Arua city that was a technical decision taken but if there are other changes they may come next year but not now” Okuonzi replied.
The selected participants from Arua city kids’ athletics championship will be heading to Luweero district to represent the city in the national championship for 2023 on the 7^th of next month.

COVER PHOTO: Winners of the Arua city under-12 kids athletics celebrate their victory By Morish Dramadri