LEGENDERY SPRINTS COACH TIMOTHY SAYS IT ALL

 TIMOTHY KABUYE THE LEGENDARY COACH. 

By Isaac Hanyiga Hiire (Piano)

Kabuye Timothy is one of the Ugandan veteran athletics coaches and has trained many athletes who have gone on to be stars. Timothy is a former athlete who majored in triple jump with he’s best jump being 15:21 meters at nambole stadium on the 1st-may- 2005 world athletics day.

Timothy says he’s interest came when he was in senior 2 at ndejje during inter house competitions and dormitories. But he says getting serious was after he’s senior 6 and then at about 21 years in Makerere University he got involved in university games and national trials. The success of athletes like Benson Okot, Tarsis Orogot, Ivan Wesonga, Jacent Nyamahunge. Coach Timothy views success in two ways; performance and how has sport impacted a person. He rates Benson ,Tarsis and  Nyamahunge Jacent as athletes who have done well in performance but mentions Ivan wesonga as a person who has understood the art of sport and is now good at passing on knowledge and coaching.

He argues that Uganda is strong in every event. “I won’t say its only distance. We have registered success in distance and sprints with Davis kamoga who almost beat Michael Johnson and John Aki bua who won the 400 hurdles”. The genes are there but it is the development. It is just unfortunate that we have not excelled well in the sprints.

Asked about he’s lowest moments; Timothy says he has not had a low moment in the sport. “For me, Winning and losing is part of the sport”. If the coach has prepared an athlete for a race, even if that athlete doesn’t run and win, it’s a win because he has given he’s 100%. “Even stepping on a track for a final race is a success,” he says.

Timothy shared he’s thoughts on recognition of coaches after athletes winning races. “The athlete should get the most recognition”. The coach doesn’t make the athlete; it’s the athlete who makes himself. “if you get the best coach and the least motivated athlete, that athlete wont shine”. This is because the two work together but its more work from the athlete. “I wouldn’t think that everywhere an athlete is celebrated, they would call he’s coach to appear”. But its prudent for the athlete to bring out the list of coaches who have played a part. Some coaches’ set the foundation at a very early age and others take on at another point. May be he was not an experienced coach but he discovered the talent and the athletes need to  remember them . Coaches go through allot and it is upon the athlete to give credit where it is due because some coaches even become sponsors and athletes know it.

Timothy explained the qualities that make a good coach. He said a good coach is one who doesn’t only coach the person but trains them to be good citizens and this is done through showing by example. Teach them to fear God and to know that there is life after the sport. Patience is key for a coach and being assertive in reaching set targets, the athlete becomes like your child. “You don’t only coach the talent, you coach the person”. It is very painful when we hear about coaches exploiting female athletes he said.

“The most important indication in a potential running star is interest in the sport” this he said while talking about discovering a star. As a coach in most cases I look at the structure of how one runs or as they walk, you can know that they have the talent. He may run and be number 4 but is not training and is just 16 years while number 1 is 19 years, it means if you train him, he can beat the winner. Usually when you help them in perfecting their start, get those shoes, direct their focus and take them through the basics, you will see success.

“The best way to get results from a runner is to understand them at personal level socially, mentally physically and emotionally.” 

Asked why he majored in athletics and not any other sport, he says, “I think God sent me to athletes”. He argues that originally in primary he was not a competitive sports man.” I was playful but not into sports. I would hide when it was time for running”. I picked interest in senior 2 and I would run at Entebbe running at the golf course with my young brother. The interest was directed in one direction and that was athletics and non-other.

Uganda has recently become a running powerhouse with the likes of Halima Nakayi and Joshua Cheptegei. Hopes are high during this Olympics for Uganda to increase its number of medals.

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