By George Katongole
It is now 15 years since Ali Ngaimoko retired from the national team sprint track.
Ngaimoko’s illustrious career started at Namboole Stadium and effectively ended in Gold Coast, Australia, when he was wheeled off after an injury in 2018.
His accolades
His personal best times are 20.92 seconds in the 200 metres, achieved in July 2011 in Nairobi; and 46.27 seconds in the 400 metres, achieved in July 2012 in Kumasi.
In the 200 metres, the Arua boy reached the semi-final at the 2010 African Championships, at the 2011 All-Africa Games and the 2012 African Championships.
In the 400 metres, he finished seventh at the 2012 African Championships.
He also reached the semi-final at the 2011 All-Africa Games.
He regrets calling down the curtains without winning any Olympic or Commonwealth medal.
Ngaimoko, who is an executive with the Tartan Burners Athletics Club (Tbac), now looks at inspiring someone to win it on his behalf.
Locally, he has won gold twice in 2010 and 2014 in Kenya in the 200m and 400m, also silver in 2009.
He has also won in European circuits in France, Italy and Montenegro.
He also reached the finals in the African Championships in 2012 in Benin.
“Unfortunately, I have not won an Olympic or Commonwealth medal.
“But it is fulfilling to take part in such global competitions,” he regrets.
The injury
Ngaimoko sustained a hamstring injury while competing in Ghana.
“It is one of the things that reduced my speed. Recently when we were in the Commonwealth Games in Australia it was still the same injury.
“I could train and actually be fit for competition. You know competition is very different from training. In training you repeat the runs.”
“The coach is always looking at how you meet the split times. But in competition you have one full blast that you have to give your best all the way.
“Whenever I put 100 percent speed, I don’t finish. Either I tear the muscle or end up slowing down,” he says.
Ngaimoko, who competed in his first competitive race in Khartoum, Sudan in 2008, has had personal best times of 10.5 in 100m, 20.7 in 200m and 46.2 in 400m. He thinks he could have done better.
“It is very sad that I am actually leaving running. I feel very bad. My mind tells me it is not time to retire.
“I can do something better but my leg cannot allow me to reach that level,” he says.
Advice
He has handed the mantle to Tarsis Orogot and Benson Okot in the 200m.
In the 400m, Haron Adoli and Leonard Opiny are doing so well. He advises them to remain humble.
He says: “I would tell them not to be proud when it is their moment. Once you disrespect people such as coaches and opponents, you are doomed.”
He adds that when you defeat someone, move and shake hands with them and move on to the next race.
Sharing with colleagues helps you improve in addition to being disciplined.
