COACH WESONGA WEGULO HILLARY OF KENYA TALKS ATHLETICS DEVELOPMENT IN THE TROPICS

 Good evening coach. What are your full names? What's your background ? And what interests you the most about coaching?

 Coach Wise: First of all, thank you very much @⁨Sem⁩ for having me here on the hot seat. 

My name is AW Hilary Wegulo Wesonga also known by many as Coach Wise

Coach Wesonga Wegulo

I have one of those so huge background. A communication Specialist by profession having worked at the leading Newspapers in Kenya i.e Nation Media and Standard Group. 

I also have a background in Creative Arts and currently a photographer and also Head of  Communication and lastly a Personal Trainer working with dignitaries and Athletics Coach .

For this discussion let's go with Coaching.

Coach Wise: Why Coaching? 

I have a passion for athletics, identifying talent and developing the talent having been a sprinter before I ventured into Coaching.

Coach Morris Uganda?

Diet along can’t make u run , first consider da talent en da skill of an athlete,der after diet will come in as a supplement

Muhwezi junior ?

Thnx Mr.Wegulo.what do think we need to do to have a break through in sprinting

Sem?

How did you combine all these professions? And how many of them do you still do currently?

You mentioned an interesting thing here. It's about identifying talent . How do you know that so and so has talent?

Coach Wise:

Thank you very Much for this question  We already have a breakthrough if you may ask. 

Why do I say that? Look at your very own Tarsis, so young yet he holds both records in 100&200m.

Look at Shida Leni....Olympian and World Championship.

Coach Hillary in white working with some of his athletes

Look at Jacent, we have so many examples

I believe we already have a breakthrough and now going for bigger circuit

Muhwezi Junior?I

 mean how do we improve on our time.Going by the past olympics qualifying time, we really far from it.

My point is on sprinters

Sem?

wow . You are a very hardworking man. Do you focus in sprinters or even the middle distance athletes

 Coach Wise:

It's not easy to identify talent. First we do our own assessment at RAC. We are currently working with young kids from age 8-15 years both boy and girl. 

We do rigorous tewtw with the hell of Coach Bernard Ouma.

Sem: 

👏👏👏👏wow. you are so inspirational. How old are you if I may ask?

Coach Wise: 

Well, I believe Uganda has one of the best sprinters in East Africa. First you have to believe in yourself. A coach will not develop any athlete who doesn't believe in him/herself. 

Secondly, dedicate time for the sport. Sprinting is no child play. You can't do it as a second option. It has to be priority and investing in it. 

It's not a sport where you take it as a mere hobby.

Sem?

Correct me if am wrong. I think our brother here is asking on how sprinters especially in Uganda could improve and compete at the Olympic level

Coach Wise: 

And to add to dedicating time, prioritizing and believing in oneself, one has to trust the process. It's not a one year or two years process. It takes time to develop, nurture and prepare an athlete to be world class. So patience and consistency must be adhered.

Sem?

Coach Hillary. How can we get companies more involved? What can athletes do to attract local sponsors?

Sem ?

In most circumstances, we find people that reach a certain level and they never think about ever going for another degree or another qualification. What inspired you to keep on seeking more knowledge?

Coach Wise

 Companies and brands can only be associated with success. Nobody wants to pump money where there is no light at the end of the tunnel. 

In this digital world where a large population own smart phones, we can use our social media handles to attract these companies. Be seen. Let the world see you through social media and companies will come knocking.

Sem ?

As a photographer , do you use the pictures to analyse how your athletes are running technically or for other uses?

Coach Wise 

Thank you for this question. 

At RAC we handle sprints, middle and Long distance. 

And you will be surprised that even the middle and Long distance athletes do sprints drills before their sessions and speed work for sprinters. 

So I may say, all athletes touch on sprints. 

But I majorly work with sprinters and jumpers ie. long and Triple jump

Coach Wesonga in black shorts

Juliet ?

Did you say mid 30's thought you were late 20's mzeze?nafurahia kukuskia.

Sem?

👏👏👏wow . That's a really good age for someone to start athletics. What advice to you give to someone who started late in athletics?

Ian Ladbrook

He's 60 really just looks young 😉

Juliet: Good job though you are going places. Proud of you Hilla was privileged to be in the same sprint club with you.

 Sem: 

👏👏👏👏you are doing things of legends. Keep up the good work

 Coach Wise:

 Ah Juliet. How are you doing. Glad to have you here. Hope our shemeji is treating you well in Uganda.

 Juliet: 

My dear Uganda is sweet as you know they say Food isn't so much in Kenya hapa chakula kwa wingi.

Coach Wise:

 😂😂😂😂 Coach Ian, the good thing about training.

I would be shocked if someone confused me for a 60 yr old

Sem: 

Very good point. 👏👏👏But even for some stars they still can't attract big sponsors locally in Africa. What advice do you give to them?

Ian Ladbrook:

 😉😉

I use the photos for analysis and also business. Stock photos have very good returns.

Juliet: 

Shemeji is lovely.Uganda is lovely. The rate of cash is killing us oooohhhh compared to Kenyan rate but am managing by God's Grace

Isaac Hiire: 

Forgive me friends, I've been in a meeting. But let me join in please.

 

Sem: 

👏👏👏👏What advice would you give to someone starting out in long jumping or triple ?How comes we have little to no athletes trying out Discus, Javelin, field events in general?

Ian Ladbrook:

 Hillary is a very good time manager , this is an essential skill for a good coach and he in my experience is always a very positive guy

Coach Wegulo providing assisted resistance to his athlete

Coach Wise:

Jumps are one of the most technical events I have coached before. For someone starting, have a good base. By good base I mean well conditioned. Strengthen the calves, quad , arms and have a good strength base. 

It takes a toll on knees, so the lower limb has to be strong.

Coach Wise:

 Thank you very much Coach for these humble words. I am grateful.

Coach Wise:

 Well, I believe as federations, we have not taken a keen Interest in these events. Why? Because they are time demanding and need a close eye as compared to the other track events. And again, our technical understanding of the events is not as wide as compared to track.

Coach Wise: 

Send us some. You know where I come from, my people are synonymous with food.

Juliet: Vuka border

Coach Wise: Put in the honest work and train smart.

Ian Ladbrook: Very true

Sem: 

you are inspirational. You should have a statue of yourself in Nairobi somewhere. 

Why do you think some people tend to get a mindset of I have reached this level, I know everything? Not necessarily athletes but in certain management fields . But having go to where you have gotten to you are still working to reach heights no one has ever dared to reach.

Coach Wise: 

😂😂 I have a statue of myself in my house. Luckily I live in Nairobi so it's in Nairobi. 

Well, I believe I have no monopoly of knowledge and nobody has monoply of knowledge too. Everyday is a day to learn something new. 

Those who think they know everything miss out on so many lessons that each day presents.

Sem: 

It would be great and we would gladly welcome you sir to Uganda. Photography is a beautiful thing that sells you to people who have never seen or met you. There's so much you can read from a mere photograph

I often compare it to boxers when you go face to face with another boxer. You can see defeat in their eyes. You can win the fight and snatch the soul of the guy you are facing beforehand.

So many ways you can use photography to sell the sport

Coach Wise: 

I have been to Uganda in my Campus years when I was still active in sprints as a sprinter. I was almost close to joining Ndejje University. Does it still offer sports scholarships?

Sem: 

👏👏👏media shy👌Great points about Tarsis. I also made the same observations in Nairobi

Sem: yes @⁨Lillians⁩ is incharge of giving out scholarships there

Coach Wise: 

Photography is beautiful. We need to take advantage of the digital space we have and get more from it. Don't just take photos or selfies and store in your phone. 

Make money from them.

Oija Fred: 

Point thanks coach wise

Sem: 

how can we change our understanding and make more people interested in trying out different activities?

Coach Wise: This is great. Keep it up. I only know of Makerere and Kyambogo sprinters. I hardly hear of Ndejje.

 

Sem: 

In need to print out that last sentence and hang it somewhere like on my fridge so I see it everyday.

Juliet: 

Hilla Ndejje is not the way it was those days....I still rem.Coach Chumek wanting me to join.

Sem: 

We would gladly welcome you back for some knowledge sharing. I see alot of photographers like Coopsrun and many others. Who make a living as photographers and occasionally come to Africa for their best photos. This is a field not taken advantage of by our very own .

Sem: 👏👏👏👏

Sem: 

What is the most challenging thing you have come accross as a coach?

Sem: 

what is the most challenging thing you have come accross as an athlete? And how did you overcome it?

Coach Wise:

Coaching has it's challenges. Everyday is a challenge in itself. 

I mostly train upcoming athletes and with that comes financial instability. So sometimes and most times, I chip in to assist in areas financially. 

Secondly and the biggest challenge is developing athletes to a level they trust the process and once they 'make it' they become 'more knowledgeable than you' and want to coach you. 

Just to mention but a few.

Muhwezi Hezekiah Jr: 

What inspired you as an athelete ?

Sem: 

Since you work with junior athletes as well. What problems do they face that are different from senior athletes?

Coach Wise:

I assist where I can financially, 

For those who become 'knowledgeable' we part ways. I can't help someone who knows coz I am also learning.

Karungi Jacent: What is the coach's take in gym session, hypertrophy. 

Generally what is the approach to sprints?

 

 👏👏👏👏good man.

 

Sem: 

I also want to talk about the transition from junior athletes to the senior level. There's been talk of athletes successful at juniors not being able to transition. For example Edward Zakayo , Elaija and so on

[05/09, 22:14] Muhwezi Hezekiah Jr: Athelete need money to keep them moving by working but at times it may be difficult to balance work and training.so what guidance can you give to the atheletes.thnx

[05/09, 22:17] Sem: 👏👏👏patience is key.

[05/09, 22:18] Coach Wise: Thank you very much for this session. 

Can I please take the last 2 or 3 questions. I sleep very early. I am always asleep by 9:30pm latest 10pm.

[05/09, 22:19] Coach Wise: I also hope I have answered your questions to satisfaction.

[05/09, 22:19] Sem: This is great but how do you afford to be able to support them? Does Rac get support from Government / Ak

[05/09, 22:19] Karungi Jacent: Thank you so much coach. How often am I supposed to do gym in a week?

[05/09, 22:20] Sem: interesting knowledge

[05/09, 22:21] Coach Wise: Thank you Jacent. No of Gym training sessions in a week is jot cast on stone. Like I said, many people confuse gym for heavy lifting. Gym involves conditioning, power, strength, and so many aspects. 

You can do as much depending on your aim.

[05/09, 22:22] Karungi Jacent: Coach, what do say about diet?

[05/09, 22:22] Sem: Have you seen some of the work of the great Arthur Lydiard? Are you familiar with his work?

[05/09, 22:25] Coach Wise: Diet is essential. You can't train and perform without a proper diet. 

Important pointers: 

Before training, go high on carbohydrates coz you need that energy. 

After training, go high on proteins for recovery. We are lucky to be in Africa where we plant most of these. 

Then high fiber intake and vitamins most importantly. 

Champions are made in the kitchen. We all work and if we can't feed our muscles well and recover well, all that training will go into waste if not harnessed and groomed with a proper diet.

[05/09, 22:25] Sem: Speaking of doping in this audio . What can be done to help athletes avoid being banned? And when this stuff is done are managements or athletes to blame?

[05/09, 22:27] Sem: who is expected to take care of who's athletes? I hope I read it right

[05/09, 22:28] Coach Wise: Sure I have. (R.i.P) One of the best in periodization with a strong endurance base.

[05/09, 22:28] Sem: Thank you very much for your time.

[05/09, 22:28] Sem: 👏👏👏👏

[05/09, 22:29] Sem: 👏👏👏great work sir

[05/09, 22:29] Oija Fred: Thanks so much coach wise for your time God bless you...

[05/09, 22:31] Noah Muzira: Thanks coach wise for sharing.

God bless

[05/09, 22:31] Oija Fred: We shall work Coach...

[05/09, 22:35] Sem: Thanks very much for your time I hope we will be in touch soon🙏

[05/09, 22:36] Sem: I might be in Zurich for the diamond league final depending on who turns up. If not we share meet on the diamond league circuit or at the commonwealth games in Birmingham

[05/09, 22:37] Coach Wise: Zurich is star studded. It's the final circuit so everyone will be there.

[05/09, 22:38] Coach Wise: Coach Bernard will be there. I will stay and work with athletes for the Continental Tour

[05/09, 22:38] Coach Wise: Thank you Sem, thank you everyone. See you next time.

[05/09, 22:39] Karungi Jacent: 👏👏👏👏👏

[05/09, 22:40] Sem: Francine niyonsaba has just shared one of our posts today. 👏👏Check out her official page to find out which post it was. Am really proud of her this season. Let's support Athletics . All over the world. Let's also support eachother in East Africa

[05/09, 22:41] Sem: 👏👏👏

[05/09, 22:41] Sem: 👏👏

[05/09, 22:41] Isaac Hiire: Today I will just read kubanga data wano munji

[05/09, 22:42] Cliff: Hahahahahahahah that's good.

[05/09, 22:44] Oija Fred: Yesu