How Will African Sports Heroes be Immortalized
How Politicians seem to get Lion's Share of African “Heroic Legacies”
Kenya first won its first 10,000m gold in the year 1968. Kenya as a republic was only 4 years old.
In some stadium, in Mexico’s capital, the altitude was higher than a giraffe’s adam’s apple. With a lap to go the bell rang and a spectacle that was to be the beginning of what was too familiar in future races played out. It was a race between two runners from two African runners and more so two neighbouring nations. Kenya and Ethiopia. It was an Ethiopian on the lead. A Tunisian closed the line of three.
The sound of the bell was to remind the athletes that they only have more lap to do, like it is supposed to, but it did something extra. It opened the taps of adrenaline that made the Ethiopian up his pace. The Tunisian in third threw in the towel. But the Kenyan decided to give a chase. And the fully packed stadium didn’t disappoint in erupting cheers.
The Ethiopian had a front-leaning running style, and as if by design, the Kenyan leaned backward. With half a lap to go, it was still Ethiopian in the lead and the Kenyan right on his heels.
When the final curve was done, the Kenyan had his indicators flashing. The Ethiopian glanced at his side mirror and knew he didn’t stand a chance.
With around 50 meters to go, it was the Kenyan on the lead. And all the way to the tape and into the arms of Kipchoge Keino. Kip had dropped out of the race.
The altitude was punishing. So many athletes were being stretchered after dropping off with oxygen masks.
The Tunisian came in third to make an African sweep and also make a statement to the world in matters of distance running.
The name of the Tunisian Bronze medallist is Mohamed Gammoudi. The Ethiopian silver medallist was Mamo Wolde and the Kenyan Gold medallist, Naftali Temu.
As unbelievable as it may seem, no other Kenyan has ever won the 10,000m gold. He later took part in the 5000m and won bronze, and this time, Kip won the silver. The gold went to the Tunisian. Pretty balanced turn of events, huh!.
The closest we ever got to it was in 2000 in Sydney, where the nail-biting race had Haile Gebresellasie beat Tergat by the thickness of his vest. As I am writing this, it is still elusive with a Ugandan being a favourite in the forthcoming Olympics.
Naftali hailed from the Kisii Highlands of Kenya.\
In early 2003, he was admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital with Pancreatic cancer. He passed on later in March. And the family struggled to raise the bill of Ksh.50,000.
But in February 2021, the Gusii Stadium was renamed Simeon Nyachae Stadium. A former National politician who recently passed on.
NAFTALI TEMU STADIUM remains to be only in our imagination.
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John Akii-Bua.
Four years later in Munich, he shocked the world by winning the 400m hurdle final from lane one. The shock was a mixture of the lane that he did it from and because of the fact that he was from Uganda. He had also taken part in very few competitive races prior to the final.
Uganda was to win its other Olympic gold, 40 years later in 2012 courtesy of Stephen Kiprotich in the men’s marathon.
Akii-Bua passed on at 47 in 1997. The same year that Uganda opened its biggest national Stadium. They named it the Nelson Mandela Stadium.
JOHN AKII-BUA STADIUM will again, rightly exist in our imaginations.
Politicians in Africa will always be bigger than many things. Including sports.
