Robert Ouko Sports Day set for December 5

The Robert Ouko Sports Day will now be held on December 5 at Manga Stadium in Nyamira County.

The event, which will be held in honour of athletics legend, the late Robert Ouko, was initially scheduled for December 13 but was brought forward.

The legends mostly former athletes have organised the event in honour of Ouko, a member of the victorious 1972 Munich Olympic 4x400m team who died in August 2019 after a long illness.

“We decided to change the date because the Nyamira county government-sponsored 21km Nyamira Great Run was moved to December 13,” said Gusii Sports Legends director, Alfred Momanyi.

He said the main event will be a 10km road race for both senior men and women. “Since one of our objectives is to identify and promote talent, we shall have races for primary and secondary school students. Kids athletics events will also be held alongside 400m and 800m for legends because these are the events that Ouko used to take part in,” added Momanyi.

He said other events lined up include tug of war and soccer. “This is not an exclusive athletics event but a sports day to celebrate our legend. His contribution to this country is immeasurable,” he added.

Momanyi appealed to well wishers and corporates to support the event. He said Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo has been invited to the event as chief guest. He hailed the county for organising the Nyamira Great Run series which is aimed at tapping talent.

He appealed to the county government of Nyamira to complete the construction of Manga Stadium and the proposed Easanige Stadium in Nyamira North.

Governor Nyaribo, who spoke at Esanige on Sunday when he flagged off the Nyamira North 10km, said the construction will start before the end of the year.

“All those who have encroached on the stadium land should move or be forced out when the contractor moves to the site,” added Nyaribo.