I resumed Sokoga British School in January 2008 at the age of 10; this was in the second term of my first year in Junior Secondary School. Two weeks in Sokoga and I was drafted into Pink Sports House. Pink House! “Are there no girls around?” my then gender stereotypical self would think. A week after I was drafted into Pink House, I was informed that second term was always the Inter-House Sports term, and so preparations were going to begin that week Thursday.
The first day we had our inter-house sport meeting, I nominated myself to be selected as one of the footballers representing Pink House. The House Teacher was reluctant to pick me, but I did not drop my hand. I was new, but I believed I had what it took! We’d play football that day and we won, convincingly. One game, one win and I made the team as a starter. There was no better way to start for me. I have always loved sports! For me, it is always a time to feel alive, forget the worries of life and savour the beauty of perseverance either in failure or success. Football is my favourite sport; for me, it is a true reflection of life.
Some weeks later, back at the training pitch, it was time for the 1,500 meters race male practice; every other house representative was present, except Pink House. Ningo, Pink House popular sportsman and then current 1,500 meters champion was sick. I remember I was standing close to one of the many trees at the training pitch, paying very little attention to what was going on, when Mr. Gbenga, who we always called Mr. G, called me to represent Ningo “just for that day.”
Few weeks later, and it was the D-Day. “Inter-House Sports Day!” Everybody was shouting. We’d go out to take a peep at the school field; the tracks were ready, the goal post was set, the participants had been training and soon the spectacle would unfold. The event started with each House taking part in the parade, what we call ‘March Pass’ and then the primary school kids would be invited, before the ‘big guys.’
I could not wait to play Red House in the final of the football competition, win and impress the eager crowd, filled with parents, teachers, students and of course, my crush. But that was not to happen as I was the only Pink House footballer who was present and willing to take on Red House in the 5 a-side championship final. The remaining footballers declined participation because that day, Ningo was sick, again. Invariably, we were disqualified and I was devastated. Little did I know that my life was about to change forever.
“1,500 meters Boys!” shouted the announcer, after about two hours of sporting activities. Red House came out, Green House came out, Yellow House came out, but there was no Pink House. Ningo was sick, again, and just the day before, he was rushed home; he was a boarding student. Mr. G my principal called me to represent Pink House, since I once represented the House during practice. Keep in mind that Sokoga’s 1,500 meters race was not the standard 1,500 meters. The field was not half as big as the standard athletics field, but since we had to go around the field three times and a half and quarter (300 meters), it was 1,500 meters to us.
The whistle was blown and just after 200 meters, I found out I had no other companion. The gap kept on increasing until it was about 400 meters. Before then, I had reconciled within myself that I must finish this race, no matter where I ended up. At this point, there was no cheering from the crowd, at least for me, just murmurs as to why I did not drop out and bring the race to an end, considering the fact that I was the only one running at this time, all others had finished. But my mum, the only person in over 1,000 viewers stood at the end, and cheered me on. This gave me hope that my decision was right. It kept me going and towards the end, in the last 50 meters, the whole crowd started celebrating my courage to finish.
Till today, remembering that moment always gives me the extra push I need when everyone else think I should quit. The image of my mum cheering me on, makes me understand that the older generation are always looking up to us to go the extra mile and finish that race. It taught me that in the race of life, we are not competing with anybody but ourselves, and so, running to finish is what’s most important. Finally, that moment taught me that we may not win at first, but surely, with determination and hard-work, we can win some other time. Two years from that day, with more practice and a desire to win, I was crowned a Sokoga 1, 500 meters champion!